NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi Unveils ₹5,400 Crore Development Projects in
Durgapur: PM Modi laid the foundation
stone, inaugurated, and dedicated projects worth over ₹5,400 crore in Durgapur,
focusing on infrastructure upgrades, industrial identity, gas-based economy,
and job creation, aligning with the “Make in India, Make for the World”
vision.Major connectivity projects included road overbridges in Paschim
Bardhaman under the Setu Bharatam scheme, the Purulia-Kotshila rail line
doubling, and Kolkata Metro expansion, significantly enhancing safety, reducing
travel time, and supporting industrial growth across West Bengal.Energy
initiatives like the ₹1,190 crore Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline and City
Gas Distribution projects in Bankura and Purulia (₹1,950 crore) aim to power
lakhs of homes, vehicles, and industries with clean fuel, supporting the One
Nation, One Gas Grid vision.
2. NIEPID and Jai Vakeel Foundation Join Hands to Launch
Nationwide Structured Education for Children with Intellectual Disabilities: NIEPID and Jai Vakeel
Foundation have signed an
MoU in Mumbai to implement a structured and uniform education model for
Children with Intellectual Disabilities (CwID) across India, ensuring
standardized and inclusive learning nationwide.The collaboration will promote
the NIEPID DISHA Curriculum as a holistic education framework, integrating
training, research, and field-level implementation, tailored to the unique
needs of children with intellectual disabilities.Key resources like the DISHA
Assessment Checklist for IEPs, Multisensory Curriculum, Digital Portal, and
Teacher Training modules will be made accessible to schools and organizations,
expanding nationwide educational access for CwIDs.
3. Maharashtra Approves Renaming of Islampur to Ishwarpur: The Maharashtra
government has approved the renaming of Islampur town in Sangli district to Ishwarpur, with
Cabinet approval already secured and the proposal sent to the Union government
for final clearance.The demand to rename Islampur dates back to 1986 and was
revived by the Hindutva outfit Shiv Pratisthan, led by Sambhaji Bhide, which
had warned of continued agitation until the demand was fulfilled.
4. Reliance Retail Acquires Iconic Brand Kelvinator: Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd.
(RRVL), a division of Reliance Industries, has acquired the iconic consumer durables brand
Kelvinator, known globally for pioneering electric refrigeration
and famous in India during the 1970s–80s for its tagline “The Coolest
One.”Additionally, Reliance Retail acquired a minority stake in U.K.-based
wellness brand FACEGYM, reinforcing its strategy of delivering globally
benchmarked, high-quality products and enhancing lifestyle offerings for Indian
households.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Rare 1931 Oil Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi Fetches Over
$204,000 at London Auction: A
rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, painted by British artist Clare Leighton in
1931, was sold for $204,648
at a Bonhams auction in London, far surpassing its estimated value
of $64,000–$90,000.The painting is believed to be the only oil portrait Gandhi
ever sat for, created during his visit to London for the Second Round Table
Conference on India’s constitutional reforms.The artwork attracted strong
global interest due to its historical significance and rarity, symbolizing a
key moment in India’s freedom movement.
2. 20 July – International Chess Day: International Chess Day is
celebrated every year on July 20,
marking the foundation of FIDE (International Chess Federation) in 1924,
uniting the global chess community in celebration.For 2025, the theme is “Every Move Counts“, emphasizing that
every decision—on the chessboard or in life—has a lasting impact, highlighting
the game’s deep connection with real-life choices.FIDE has declared this as the
‘Year of Social Chess’, promoting chess as a powerful tool for inclusion,
education, empowerment, and mental well-being, with Indian players—from
Viswanathan Anand to young prodigies—shining on the global stage.
3. 20 July – International Moon Day: International Moon Day is
observed every year on July 20 to
commemorate the first human landing on the Moon by NASA’s Apollo 11 mission in
1969, when astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the
lunar surface.The day celebrates the achievements of space exploration and
promotes international cooperation in lunar research, innovation, and peaceful
uses of outer space. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in
2021.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. INS Sandhayak Makes Maiden Visit to Malaysia’s Port
Klang to Promote MAHASAGAR Vision: INS Sandhayak,
India’s first indigenously designed and built hydrographic survey ship, made its maiden port call to Port Klang,
Malaysia to strengthen maritime ties and promote India’s MAHASAGAR
vision for regional cooperation.The visit underscores India’s role in
hydrographic capacity building under the Indian Naval Hydrographic Department
(INHD) and aims to facilitate technical exchanges and institutional
cooperation.Commissioned in February 2024, INS Sandhayak is equipped for deep-water
surveys, oceanographic data collection, SAR and humanitarian missions, with
onboard helicopter and hospital facilities.
2. Indian Navy Joins 32nd SIMBEX Exercise in Singapore: The Indian Navy will
participate in the 32nd edition of
SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise), formerly
known as Exercise Lion King, later this month in Singapore, strengthening
maritime ties with the Republic of Singapore Navy.The Indian Navy’s recent
complex HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) and SAR (Search and
Rescue) operations in the Arabian Sea have been internationally appreciated,
highlighting India’s growing leadership in maritime response.Four Indian
warships — INS Delhi, INS Satpura,
INS Kiltan, and INS Shakti — have arrived in Singapore for SIMBEX
under Rear Admiral Susheel Menon, showcasing India’s indigenous naval
capability and commitment to joint training with ASEAN partners.
SPORTS
1. Hyderabad to Host 2nd Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025
from August 3–10: The second Women’s Kabaddi
World Cup will be held in
Hyderabad, Telangana, from
August 3 to 10, 2025, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium.A total of 14
countries are expected to participate, with India as the host, and confirmed
teams including Argentina, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Germany, Holland, Iran,
Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Thailand, Uganda, Zanzibar, and Poland (pending
confirmation).Hyderabad is returning to the international kabaddi stage after
20 years, having last hosted the Asian Kabaddi Championship in 2005, reflecting
its growing role in promoting women’s sports.
2. England to Host Next Three World Test Championship
Finals: ICC: England will
host the, as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) during its
annual conference in Singapore.These finals are scheduled to be held in June,
aligning with the English summer season and favourable weather conditions for
test cricket.England has previously hosted the WTC finals in 2021
(Southampton), 2023 (The Oval), and will also host the 2025 edition at Lord’s,
continuing its role as a key venue for red-ball cricket.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Jitendra Singh Launches NSCSTI 2.0 to Transform Civil
Services Training with AI: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra
Singh launched the National Standards for Civil Service Training
Institutes 2.0 (NSCSTI 2.0) at CSOI, Delhi, developed by the Capacity
Building Commission (CBC) to modernize civil services training across India.The
revamped framework reduces evaluation metrics from 59 to 43, offering greater
clarity and outcome-based assessments, and was shaped through consultations
with over 160 training institutes and experts.NSCSTI 2.0 integrates hybrid
learning models, AI-driven training, and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) along
with tools like the Karmayogi Competency Model (KCM) and Amrit Gyaan Kosh (AGK)
to build a future-ready, citizen-centric bureaucracy.The framework is scalable
across all levels of government — Central, State, and Urban Local Bodies
(ULBs), marking a key milestone in aligning training with global best practices
and India’s governance vision.
2. Largest Known Martian Meteorite on Earth Sells for $5.3
Million at Sotheby’s Auction: A 54-pound (24.5 kg)
Martian meteorite, known as NWA 16788, sold for $5.3 million at
Sotheby’s, setting a new world auction record for a meteorite after a 15-minute
bidding war.The meteorite, confirmed to be the largest known piece of Mars
found on Earth, was discovered in November 2023 in Niger’s Sahara Desert by a
local meteorite hunter.Scientists believe it was ejected from Mars around 5
million years ago by a massive asteroid or comet impact, travelling 140 million
miles through space before landing intact in a remote desert region.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Sweden’s EQT Acquires Niwas Housing Finance: Swedish investment firm EQT has completed the acquisition of
Niwas Housing Finance Ltd (formerly Indostar Home Finance) from IndoStar
Capital Finance, marking a strategic move into India’s affordable housing
finance sector.EQT plans to invest ₹500 crore ($58 million) as growth capital
to drive geographic expansion and boost digital capabilities of Niwas Housing
Finance.Founded in 2017, Niwas focuses on providing affordable home loans in
Tier 2 to Tier 4 cities, having supported over 47,000 low-income homeowners and
small businesses, with an AUM of over ₹3,000 crore as of March 31, 2025.
2. State Bank of India Named World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 by Global Finance: State Bank of India has been awarded the title of “World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025” by Global Finance magazine, based on extensive global research, expert analysis, and insights from financial professionals worldwide.The award will be presented to SBI Chairman C.S. Setty at the World’s Best Bank event in Washington, D.C., on October 18, 2025, during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings. SBI’s recognition highlights its customer-first digital transformation strategy, which includes vernacular voice banking, 24/7 digital support, and AI-powered hyper-personalised services.
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