NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Tesla Enters India with Liberty, ACKO as Insurance
Partners: Tesla has entered the Indian
market, partnering with Liberty General Insurance and ACKO as
its official insurance collaborators to offer tailored coverage for its
electric vehicles.Liberty General Insurance has introduced a range of customized
protection plans designed specifically for Tesla vehicles, focusing on
performance, safety, and the unique requirements of EV owners.ACKO has been
named Tesla’s preferred insurance partner in India, while Zurich Kotak
General Insurance launched a new EV-specific cover called ‘EV Protect’, which
also includes Tesla among the covered brands.
2. Gujarat Leads India in Processed Potato Production and
Export with Record 48.59 Lakh Tonnes in 2024–25: Gujarat has become the leading state in India for processed
potato production and export, recording a total output of 48.59 lakh tonnes in
2024–25, with over 25% of this yield dedicated to processing into French
fries and wafers. Among the processed output, 60% goes to wafer production and
40% to French fries.The State has emerged as the top producer of processed
potatoes in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.The state’s
Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli districts are major contributors,
collectively producing 38 lakh tonnes over 1.19 lakh hectares. Banaskantha alone
produced 18.70 lakh tonnes, making it Gujarat’s top potato-producing district
in the season.India’s processed potato production has seen remarkable
growth—from less than 1 lakh tonnes in 2004–05 to 11.50 lakh tonnes in 2024–25,
with cultivation area rising from 4,000 to 37,000 hectares, indicating a
tenfold rise in output and ninefold expansion in farming area.Gujarat grows
high-yield, processing-grade potato varieties like Lady Rosetta, Kufri
Chipsona, and Santana, which are favored by quick-service restaurants, frozen
food processors, and exported largely to Middle Eastern countries. Cold storage
infrastructure in northern districts ensures a stable supply
3. Manohar Lal Launches ₹1000-Crore ADEETIE Scheme to
Boost Energy Efficiency in MSMEs: The
ADEETIE (Assistance in Deploying Energy Efficient Technologies in Industries
& Establishments) scheme was officially launched by Union Minister
Shri Manohar Lal at Arya P.G. College, Panipat, aiming to support MSMEs in
adopting energy-efficient technologies through financial and technical
assistance.With a budget outlay of ₹1000 crore, the scheme is implemented by
the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, offering
interest subvention of 5% for Micro & Small Enterprises and 3% for Medium Enterprises,
along with support like energy audits, DPRs, and monitoring.The scheme is
expected to help MSMEs reduce energy consumption by 30–50%, improve
power-to-product ratios, and promote the creation of green energy corridors,
thereby contributing to India’s low-carbon economic transition and climate
goals.
4. Tesla Launches First India Showroom in Mumbai; Model Y
Bookings Open at ₹59.89 Lakh:
Tesla officially launched its operations in India by opening its
first experience centre in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai.The
company launched the Model Y electric SUV in two variants, starting
at ₹59.89 lakh, both of which will be imported from Tesla’s China factory.
While the base model will be delivered this quarter, the long-range rear-wheel
drive version will arrive next quarter.Ahead of deliveries, Tesla is setting up
EV charging infrastructure in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR. Bookings for both variants
are now open, and the vehicles will initially be registered in Mumbai, Delhi,
and Gurugram.
4. PM Modi Launches ‘Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ to Boost
Agriculture in 100 Low-Productivity Districts Over Six Years: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved
the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana for six years starting
from FY 2025–26, targeting 100 districts with low agricultural productivity,
limited credit access, and low cropping intensity.Inspired by NITI Aayog’s
Aspirational District Programme, the scheme focuses exclusively on agriculture
and allied sectors, aiming to improve crop productivity, promote sustainable
and diversified farming, strengthen post-harvest infrastructure, and expand
irrigation and credit access.The scheme will be implemented through convergence
of 36 existing schemes across 11 central ministries, state-level programs, and
public-private partnerships. At least one district from every state and union
territory will be covered, with fund allocation based on net cropped area and
operational holdings.Customized plans will be developed by each District Dhan-Dhaanya
Samiti, including progressive farmers, and progress will be tracked through a
digital dashboard with 117 key performance indicators. NITI Aayog will oversee
guidance and evaluation, while Central Nodal Officers monitor district-level
implementation.
5. Goa Launches India’s First High-Speed RoRo Ferries on
Chorao–Ribandar Route: Two new Roll on-Roll off (RoRo) ferries,
Gangotri and Dwarka, have been launched by the Goa government on the
Chorao–Ribandar route across the Mandovi river, offering relief to daily
commuters and tourists.These advanced ferries travel at double the speed of
traditional boats (10 knots), reducing travel time from 30 minutes to just
12–13 minutes; each ferry can carry 100 passengers, 15 cars, and 30–40
two-wheelers.The ferries feature air-conditioned passenger cabins, emergency
medical kits, and clearly marked lanes for vehicles; they will operate under a
Built-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model at zero cost to the state government.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. HSBC Becomes First UK Bank to Exit Net Zero Banking
Alliance, Sparking Climate Commitment Concerns: HSBC has become the first UK bank to withdraw from the
Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), raising serious concerns about
its long-term commitment to climate action.HSBC was a founding member of NZBA
in 2021, aiming to align its financial activities with net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions by 2050. However, in February 2025, the bank delayed parts of its
climate goals by 20 years and weakened environmental targets, sparking criticism
from environmental groups like ShareAction.Climate advocates have warned that
HSBC’s departure could trigger a domino effect among other UK banks, weakening
global climate coordination efforts. Meanwhile, other UK lenders like Barclays,
Lloyds, NatWest, and Nationwide remain part of NZBA as of now.
2. 17 July – World Day for International Justice: World Day for International
Justice is observed every
year on 17 July to promote international criminal justice and
recognise the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in upholding law
and accountability globally.This day marks the adoption of the Rome Statute on
17 July 1998, which led to the establishmentof the ICC—the world’s first
permanent international court to prosecute individuals for genocide, war
crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
3. 17 July – World Emoji Day: World Emoji Day is
celebrated annually on 17 July to
recognise the importance of emojis in digital communication and the way they’ve
transformed how people express emotions online.World Emoji Day, established by
Jeremy Burge, the founder of Emojipedia, honours these essential elements of
digital communicationEmojis are now a universal digital language, used in
texting, emails, social media, and more to add tone, emotion, and fun to
conversations. This day celebrates how emojis bring people together beyond
languages and cultures.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India Receives Second GE-F404 Engine for
LCA Tejas: India
recently received the second GE-F404 engine from the United States for its
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A programme. This marks a key step in the
ongoing effort to strengthen the Indian Air Force (IAF) with indigenous fighter
jets. Despite delays caused by supply chain disruptions, deliveries of these
engines are now underway. The public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) is responsible for integrating these engines into the LCA
Tejas Mk-1A jets. HAL took
delivery of the second GE-F404 engine in July 2025. A total of 12 engines are
expected by the end of the financial year. HAL had placed a ₹5,375 crore order
for 99 engines with GE Aerospace in August 2021. The IAF has ordered 83 LCA
Mk-1A jets and plans to procure an additional 97 aircraft. The Defence Ministry
has given clearance for this expanded order, worth about ₹67,000 crore.
SPORTS
1. India’s Deepika Wins Poligras Magic Skill Award
2024–25 for Stunning Solo Goal Against Netherlands: Indian women’s hockey forward Deepika won the Poligras
Magic Skill Award 2024–25 for her brilliant solo goal against world
No. 1 Netherlands during the FIH Hockey Pro League match held in
Bhubaneswar.Other nominees included Spain’s Patricia Alvarez for her 3D skill
goal against Australia and the Australian women’s team for a team goal versus
England, while in the men’s category, Belgium’s Victor Wegnez won for his
midfield brilliance against Spain.
2. Bihar win U18 Boys’ title at Junior National Rugby 7s
2025: Bihar clinched the U18 Boys’ title by defeating
defending champions Odisha 17–15 in a thrilling final at Maharana
Pratap Sports College, Dehradun.Bihar remained unbeaten throughout the
tournament, overcoming strong teams like Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, West
Bengal, and Maharashtra.Maharashtra secured third place with a golden try by
Saurabh Sanjay Rajput against Delhi, who finished fourth with a marked
improvement from 2024.Indian Rugby President – Rahul Bose
3. India Bags 2 Gold, 2 Silver at International Chemistry
Olympiad 2025: India’s
four-member student team won 2 gold and 2 silver medals at
the 57th International Chemistry
Olympiad (IChO) 2025 held in Dubai, competing against 354 students
from 90 countries.Gold medals were won by Devesh Pankaj Bhaiya (Jalgaon, Maharashtra) and Sandeep Kuchi (Hyderabad,
Telangana), while Debadatta
Priyadarshi (Bhubaneshwar, Odisha) and Ujjwal Kesari (New Delhi) secured silver, placing India
sixth in the overall medal tally.The team was selected through the National
Olympiad Examinations conducted by HBCSE, Mumbai (under TIFR), and underwent rigorous
training in theory and laboratory work before the event.The participation was
supported by national agencies, including DAE, DST, DOS, and MoE, reflecting
India’s growing strength in pre-university science education and international
academic competitions.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Delhi Launches Cloud Seeding to Combat
Pollution: Delhi is set
to conduct its first cloud seeding operation between August 30 and September
10, 2025. This initiative aims to reduce air pollution by triggering artificial
rainfall. The project was postponed from July following expert advice from
the India
Meteorological Department (IMD)
and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. The Rs 3.21
crore project will use five modified Cessna aircraft to seed clouds over
northwest and outer Delhi. Cloud seeding is a weather modification
technique. It involves adding substances like silver iodide, dry ice, or salt
particles to clouds. These materials encourage cloud droplets to form and fall
as rain or snow. The process requires existing clouds and can increase rainfall
by 5-15 per cent. It is used to address water scarcity, reduce hail, or clear
fog.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Labour Force Participation and
Unemployment Trends 2025: The Periodic
Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for May
and June 2025 reveals key trends in unemployment and labour force participation in
India. The unemployment rate stayed constant at 5.6%. However, there was a
slight decline in labour force participation, particularly among women.
Seasonal factors and socio-economic changes influenced these shifts. The
overall unemployment rate remained at 5.6% for both months. Male unemployment
was steady, while female unemployment saw a minor drop of 0.1 percentage
points. Rural unemployment decreased by 0.2 points, but urban unemployment rose
by 0.2 points. This indicates varying job market dynamics across regions.
Women’s participation is notably lower than men’s across all regions. The
decline is sharper in rural areas, where female LFPR dropped by 1.7 percentage
points from May to June. The share of rural female workers in agriculture also
fell slightly, from 70.2% to 69.8%. This suggests reduced agricultural
engagement possibly linked to lower rural inflation and seasonal work patterns.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Leila Aboulela Wins 2024 PEN Pinter
Prize for Powerful Writing on Migration, Faith, and Women’s Lives: Leila Aboulela has been awarded the 2024 PEN Pinter
Prize for her powerful writing on migration, faith, and the lives of
women, reflecting deep societal truths with intellectual clarity.The prize
honors writers who exhibit an “unflinching, unswerving” view of the world, in
the spirit of Harold Pinter, and who strive to uncover the real truths of
society and human experience.Aboulela, originally from Khartoum, Sudan, and
based in Aberdeen, Scotland since 1990, is the author of six novels and two
short story collections, including The Translator, Elsewhere, Home, and her
latest, River Spirit (2023).The PEN Pinter Prize is awarded annually to writers
from the UK, Ireland, the Commonwealth, or former Commonwealth countries. Past
winners include Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, and Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie.
2. Recent Awards: Hem Bahadur Malla Award 2080 – Former Chief Justice Kalyan
Shrestha (for his contributions to Nepal’s judiciary and institutional
reform)ISO 9001:2015 Certification from BIS – Arthunkal Police Station
(First in India)Namibia’s Highest Civilian Honour ‘Order of the Most Ancient
Welwitschia Mirabilis’ – PM Narendra ModiKerala Fisheries Excellence Award
2025 – Kasaragod district (Ifor its outstanding performance under the
Popular Fish Farming Project)Brazil’s highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar
of the National Order of the Southern Cross – PM Narendra Modi
3. Indian Activist Varsha Deshpande Wins 2025 UN Population Award for Championing Women’s Rights: Varsha Deshpande, a renowned women’s rights activist and founder of the Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, has been awarded the 2025 UN Population Award in the individual category for her lifelong work on gender-based issues and social justice.With over 35 years of activism, Deshpande has focused on fighting gender-based violence, discrimination, and promoting women’s rights, especially among Dalit and marginalized communities.Her organization, Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, established in 1990, works at the grassroots level to empower women through vocational training, resource access, and financial independence.In the institutional category, the award was given to the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), a global body established in 1927 that contributes significantly to population science and policy.
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