NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan Gets Tenure
Extension Till August 2026: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, a
1989 batch IAS officer from the Sikkim cadre, has received a tenure extension till August 22, 2026.He was originally
scheduled to retire on September 30, 2025, but his service has been extended
under the provisions of FR 56(d) and Rule 16(1A) of the AIS
(Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.Govind Mohan assumed office as
Union Home Secretary on August 23, 2024, after serving as the Culture
Secretary.
2. Himachal Pradesh’s Progress In National
Achievement Survey: The National
Achievement Survey (NAS) 2025 results
revealed a surprising shift in India’s educational landscape. Himachal Pradesh
jumped from 21st place in 2021 to the top five. Punjab and Kerala maintained
their leading positions. Himachal’s sharp rise by 16 ranks attracted widespread
attention. This marks turnaround for the State’s public education system. The
NAS is a nationwide assessment conducted every three years by the Ministry of
Education. It measures learning outcomes of students in government and
government-aided schools. The survey covers Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10. Core
subjects tested include language, mathematics, and science. NAS provides data
to help States improve education policies. However, it mainly assesses easily
testable skills. Broader educational goals like critical thinking, emotional
growth, civic awareness, and equity are not measured.
3. Caracal Sighting In Madhya Pradesh: The rare caracal has been captured on
camera inside the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. This is
the first confirmed sighting in the state in nearly 20 years. The discovery is
linked to ongoing conservation efforts under Project
Cheetah. The Wildlife
Institute of India (WII) and Madhya
Pradesh forest department have been monitoring wildlife in the area since 2023.
The sighting offers hope for the revival of threatened species in the region.
Project Cheetah began monitoring cheetahs, prey, and other predators in the
Gandhi Sagar landscape in 2023. Camera traps were set up in the fenced Cheetah
Closed Natural Area to track animal movement. The project aims to restore
habitat and improve biodiversity. The caracal photographs were obtained from
the Golabavdi beat in the West Range of the sanctuary. This marks the first
confirmed presence of caracals since monitoring started.
4. India’s Forest Land Diversion Sparks Legal
Controversy: The
Government of India has approved the clearance of over 8,500 hectares of forest
land in the first half of 2025. This move has raised concerns due to a Supreme
Court order prohibiting forest
land reduction without
safeguards. The approvals include areas legally protected under earlier court
directives. The issue centres on the misuse of compensatory afforestation (CA)
and the recent Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023. Between February and
June 2025, 8,518.23 hectares of forest land were approved for clearing. This
area is roughly four times the size of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International
Airport. Approvals came from three statutory bodies – Regional Empowered
Committees (REC), Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), and the Standing Committee
of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The REC approved 348.96 hectares,
the FAC 4,711.91 hectares, and the NBWL 3,457.37 hectares, including protected
areas like national parks.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Kumar Mangalam Birla joining the USISPF Executive
Committee: Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya
Birla Group, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum
(USISPF) Board of Directors.He was also honoured with the Global Leadership Award at
the 2025 USISPF Leadership Summit held
in Washington, D.C.,
recognizing his global business influence.The Aditya Birla Group, India’s third-largest conglomerate, operates
across diverse sectors with a global workforce of 180,000+ employees, and is known for its meritocratic culture and
innovation-driven growth.
2. Kumar Mangalam Birla Joins USISPF Executive Committee: Kumar Mangalam Birla,
Chairman of Aditya Birla Group,
has joined the Executive Committee of
the S.-India Strategic Partnership
Forum (USISPF).He received the Global Leadership Award at the 2025 USISPF Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., recognizing his global business impact.Aditya
Birla Group, India’s
third-largest conglomerate, operates across multiple sectors with
a global workforce of over 1.8
lakh employees.
3. Salt Reduction Efforts in India: Recent studies reveal excessive salt intake is driving a
silent health crisis in India. High salt consumption increases risks of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and kidney
disorders. Scientists at the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National
Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE) have launched community-based
interventions focusing on low sodium salt substitutes. These efforts aim to
reduce salt intake and improve cardiovascular health across urban and rural
populations. The World Health Organisation recommends less than 5 grams of salt
per person daily. However, urban Indians consume about 9.2 grams per day,
nearly double the recommended limit. Rural consumption is lower but still
exceeds recommendations at 5.6 grams daily. This high intake is linked with
increased hypertension and related diseases.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Kashmir Martyrs Day 2025: The politics of Jammu and
Kashmir in 2025 is tense around Martyrs’ Day on July 13. This day, once an
official holiday, honours those killed in 1931 during protests against the
Dogra regime. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the holiday was scrapped.
With an elected government now in power, political parties planned to visit the
Martyrs’ Cemetery. The BJP opposed this. To prevent visits, the police placed
many leaders under house arrest. The controversy marks deep political divides
and the complex legacy of Kashmir’s struggle. Martyrs’ Day commemorates the
killing of 22 Kashmiri Muslims on 13 July 1931. They were shot by Dogra police
outside Srinagar Central Jail during a protest. The protest was against the
Dogra rulers’ autocratic rule. The victims were buried at the shrine of Khawja
Bahaudin Naqashbandi. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah declared this day as Martyrs’
Day to honour their sacrifice. The event marked the start of political
awakening and identity assertion in Kashmir.
2. India’s Astra Missile Achieves Indigenous
Seeker Flight Success: Recent developments in India’s defence technology show
milestone. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian
Air Force (IAF) successfully tested the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air
Missile (BVRAAM) equipped with an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker. The
test took place off the coast of Odisha from a Su-30 Mk-I fighter jet. This
achievement marks a leap in India’s self-reliance in critical defence systems.
On 11 July 2025, two Astra missiles were launched against high-speed unmanned
aerial targets. Both missiles achieved pinpoint accuracy under varied launch
conditions and target aspects. The Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, confirmed
the flawless performance of all subsystems, especially the indigenously
developed RF seeker. The missile’s range exceeds 100 kilometres, supported by
advanced guidance and navigation systems.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. NESTS Signs MoU with Tata Motors to Empower Tribal
Youth through Skill-Based Education and Employment Opportunities: The National Education Society for Tribal
Students (NESTS) and Tata Motors Limited (TML) signed an MoU to enhance skill-linked education and employment for tribal students
from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).Under this partnership,
tribal students completing Class 12th will be enrolled in the Tata Motors
Kaushalya Program, focusing on employability and vocational training.This
five-year MoU reflects a shared goal of uplifting tribal communities through
structured skill development, aligned with India’s national development and
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2. NESTS and UNICEF India Launch TALASH to Empower Tribal
Students with Life Skills: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in
collaboration with UNICEF India, has launched the TALASH initiative (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills and
Self-Esteem Hub) to promote holistic development among students of
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs).TALASH focuses on enhancing
self-awareness, life skills, and career clarity among tribal youth, aiming to
nurture both educational and personal excellence.It is the first national-level
program of its kind specifically dedicated to tribal students, representing a
focused effort to empower and uplift tribal communities through targeted
educational support.
3. IN-SPACe Clearance for Starlink
Satellites: Starlink, owned by Elon
Musk, has secured the final regulatory clearance to offer satellite
communication services in India. The Indian National Space Promotion and
Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) authorised Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation,
enabling the company to begin operations after receiving an operator licence
from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). This move marks step in
expanding satellite-based internet access across the country. Starlink obtained its operator licence from
the DoT in May 2025 after a three-year application process. IN-SPACe granted
authorisation for the Starlink Gen1 satellite constellation, which includes
4,408 satellites orbiting at 540-570 km altitude. The authorisation is valid
for five years or until the constellation’s operational life ends. Starlink
must comply with all regulatory provisions and secure additional clearances as
required.
4. India’s Sulphur Dioxide Emission Norms: India recently extended
the deadline for coal-fired power plants to install flue gas desulphurisation
(FGD) units. This move relaxes sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission
control norms. The extension has drawn criticism from independent researchers
who warn of serious health and environmental risks. Despite strict norms set in
2015, most plants have not complied. The debate continues over the scientific
basis and public health impact of this delay. In 2015, India introduced
stringent SO2 emission standards for coal-based power plants. These required
installation of FGD units within two years to reduce SO2 emissions. SO2 is a
harmful pollutant that converts into fine particulate matter (PM2.5), causing
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Even with multiple deadline
extensions, over 90% of plants have failed to install FGDs.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI Imposes Penalties on HDFC Bank and Shriram Finance
for Regulatory Violations: RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹4.88 lakh on
HDFC Bank for violating foreign investment norms while sanctioning
a term loan to a client.Shriram Finance
Limited was penalised
₹2.70 lakh by the Reserve Bank of India for non-compliance with
certain provisions of the RBI (Digital Lending) Directions, 2025 after a
statutory inspection based on its March 2024 financials.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Prajakta Koli Becomes The Only Indian On 2025 TIME100 Creators List: Prajakta Koli, popularly known as MostlySane, has been featured in the 2025 TIME100 Creators List, making her the first and only Indian-born digital creator to receive this global recognition.The TIME100 Creators List highlights the world’s most influential digital voices and includes global icons like Mr. Beast (Jimmy Donaldson), Khabane Lame, Kai Cenat, and Mel Robbins.Koli began her journey on YouTube in 2015, gaining fame through relatable comedy sketches based on everyday Indian life, amassing 7 million+ subscribers and 8 million Instagram followers.Beyond digital content, she has acted in Netflix’s “Mismatched”, Bollywood films like Jugjugg Jeeyo and Neeyat, hosted YouTube Originals’ “Pretty Fit”, and in 2025, published her debut novel “Too Good To Be True”.
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