NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. National Expert Committee Reviews Safety of Key
Ayurvedic Herbs at AIIA Goa Meeting: The National Expert Committee Meeting on Herb
Safety Dossiers was held at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa, co-chaired by
Dr. A. Raghu and Dr. J. B. Gupta, with participation from senior scientists and
experts from reputed institutions.The Ministry of Ayush is actively developing
safety dossiers for four key Ayush herbs—Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris), Tulsi
(Ocimum sanctum), Haridra (Curcuma longa), and Chandrashura (Lepidium
sativum)—to strengthen the scientific evidence base of traditional medicine.The
committee conducted a comprehensive review involving Ayurvedic classical texts,
pharmacological and toxicology data, preclinical studies, and clinical
literature to ensure the safety and credibility of these herbs.
2. India Marks 166th Income Tax Day: India celebrates the 166th Income Tax Day on 24 July 2025, marking
the introduction of income tax in 1860 by Sir James Wilson and recognising the
evolution of India’s tax system from the Income Tax Act of 1922 to the proposed
Income Tax Bill, 2025.Major technological reforms—including PAN, TIN, CPC
Bengaluru, Faceless Assessment, and Project Insight—have transformed tax
administration into a fully digital and citizen-friendly system, enhancing
compliance and transparency.The Finance Act 2025 has extended the time to file
updated returns from 24 to 48 months, raised the zero-tax income threshold to
₹12 lakh, and introduced several middle-class relief measures, including full
tax exemption for NSS withdrawals after August 29, 2024.
3. PM Modi Becomes India’s Second-Longest Serving Prime
Minister, Surpasses Indira Gandhi’s Record: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
become the second-longest-serving
Prime Minister of India in consecutive terms, compl0eting 4,078 days in office,
surpassing Indira Gandhi’s record of 4,077 days; only Jawaharlal Nehru served
longer with 16 years and 286 days.Modi, aged 74, first took office on May 26,
2014, and has now served over 11 years and 60 days as Prime Minister. He is
also the first and only PM born after Independence, and the longest-serving
non-Congress Prime Minister.He is the only non-Congress leader to serve two
full terms and be re-elected twice with a clear majority, and the first sitting
PM since Indira Gandhi in 1971 to return to power with a full mandate.Narendra
Modi has won six consecutive elections as a party leader – three in Gujarat (2002,
2007, 2012) and three Lok Sabha polls (2014, 2019, 2024), making him the only
Indian leader to achieve this across state and national levels.
4. India Successfully Tests First
Hydrogen-Powered Rail Coach: India successfully tested its
first hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, marking a major step in
green rail mobility.The coach is part of a project to develop a
1,200-horsepower hydrogen train, which will place India among the global
leaders in hydrogen-powered train technology.Under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative, Indian Railways plans to
run 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage and hill routes, with an estimated
cost of ₹80 crore per train and ₹70 crore per route for necessary
infrastructure.A pilot project worth ₹111.83 crore has been awarded for
retrofitting a hydrogen fuel cell on an existing Diesel Electric Multiple Unit
(DEMU) rake, to operate on the Jind–Sonipat section of the Northern Railway.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Post and NPCI International Join Forces to
Transform Global Remittances via UPI and Postal Network: The Department of Posts (DoP) and NPCI International Payments
Limited (NIPL) signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement
(NDA) to collaborate on revolutionising inward remittances to India
through a UPI-based system integrated with the Universal Postal Union (UPU)
Interconnection Platform.The initiative aims to modernise cross-border payment
services by offering a secure, seamless, and affordable remittance option for
the Indian diaspora, leveraging the strengths of UPI and the trusted global
postal network.By combining UPI’s real-time transaction capability with the
widespread reach of the postal system, the partnership seeks to expand access
to financial services, especially in remote or underserved areas.
2. India-Maldives Boost Strategic Ties
with 6 MoUs, ₹4,850 Cr Credit Line, and Major Infrastructure Inauguration: India and Maldives signed six MoUs covering key areas like
fisheries, aquaculture, meteorology, digital public infrastructure (including
UPI), Indian Pharmacopoeia, and a ₹4,850 crore Line of Credit to support
infrastructure and development in the island nation.
India
and Maldives exchanged an Amendatory Agreement reducing Maldives’ annual debt
repayment by 40% (from $51 million to $29 million) and began Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) negotiations to boost economic ties.PM Modi and President
Muizzu jointly inaugurated key infrastructure projects, including Maldives’ new
Defence Ministry building, Addu City’s 111 km road & 106 km drainage
system, 6 community projects, and handed over 3,300 social housing units and 72
vehicles.
3. India and Indonesia Sign MoU to Boost Sustainable Palm
Oil Production and Policy Alignment: The
Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) and the Indonesian
Palm Oil Association (IPOA) signed a 3-year MoU during the IVPA
conference in New Delhi to enhance cooperation in the palm oil sector,
focusing on productivity, sustainability, and policy alignment.The agreement
emphasises joint research, technology transfer, and sharing of best practices
to increase productivity while reducing environmental impact.A key focus is
developing a sustainability roadmap that promotes certified sustainable palm
oil, improves traceability, and ensures the inclusion of smallholder farmers.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict: The Thailand-Cambodia
border conflict intensified in July 2025, with military strikes and deadly
clashes resulting in civilian casualties and diplomatic strain. Both nations
accuse each other of sovereignty violations amid ongoing disputes over
territory and historic temples. The situation remains volatile with military
engagements and political repercussions. In late July 2025, Thailand’s army
launched air strikes targeting Cambodian military positions along their
disputed border. Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets and claimed to have
destroyed Cambodian regional support units. Fighting occurred at six locations,
prompting evacuation of Thai border residents. Cambodia accused Thailand of
excessive force while Thailand condemned Cambodian landmine placements injuring
Thai soldiers. The conflict centres on a border spanning over 800 kilometres,
rooted in colonial-era maps from 1907. Both countries claim sovereignty over
areas including the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple near Surin province and the
Preah Vihear temple on the Cambodia-Thailand border. These sites hold religious
and cultural significance and have been flashpoints for decades.
2. Brazil Joins South Africa’s Genocide Case
Against Israel: Brazil is preparing to
formally join South
Africa’s case at the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel
of genocide in Gaza. The case, filed in 2023, alleges that Israel’s military
actions extend beyond targeting Hamas militants and involve attacks on
civilians and civilian infrastructure. Brazil’s move reflects growing
international concern over alleged violations of international law in the
conflict. South Africa filed a lawsuit at the ICJ under the 1948 Genocide
Convention. It claims Israel’s military strikes in Gaza violate its obligations
by targeting civilian areas such as schools, hospitals, and shelters. The case
argues that these actions constitute acts of genocide against Palestinians.
Israel denies these allegations, stating its operations focus solely on Hamas
militants.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. NASA Launches TRACERS Mission to
Study Earth’s Magnetic Shield and Space Weather Impacts: NASA successfully launched the TRACERS mission (Tandem
Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) aboard a
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base to study
how Earth’s magnetic field shields us from space weather.
The
twin TRACERS satellites will fly in tandem, just 10 seconds apart, through the
polar cusp — an open region of Earth’s magnetic field near the North Pole — to
investigate magnetic reconnection, a powerful process where magnetic field
lines from the Sun and Earth snap and realign, releasing energy.Over the next
year, TRACERS will collect a record 3,000 measurements, helping scientists
better understand how solar wind impacts Earth’s space environment and
providing insights that could improve protection for satellites, astronauts,
and power grids.Launched alongside TRACERS were NASA’s Athena, PExT, and REAL
missions, which aim to demonstrate new space technologies and gather valuable
scientific data, with all satellites successfully deployed and undergoing
initial contact and commissioning procedures.
2. India’s Satellite Instructional Television
Experiment: India’s space
journey in 2025 continues to inspire with renewed focus on practical
applications. The 50th anniversary of the Satellite Instructional Television
Experiment (SITE) marks India’s pioneering role in using space technology for
social benefit. SITE was a landmark project that brought educational television
to rural India through satellite broadcasting. It set the foundation for
India’s space programme to prioritise societal development alongside scientific
advancement. Launched on 1 August 1975, SITE was a collaboration between India
and the United States. It used NASA’s ATS-6 satellite to beam educational and
development programmes to 2,400 remote villages across six diverse state of
Indias. The project targeted backward districts, including unelectrified
villages. TV sets were installed in community centres, schools, and panchayat
ghars for free public viewing, transcending caste and class barriers. SITE was
the first large-scale direct-to-home satellite broadcasting experiment,
bringing television to rural India long before urban areas had widespread
access.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Federal Bank Launches India’s First Biometric
Authentication for E-Commerce Transactions with M2P and MinkasuPay: Federal Bank, in
partnership with M2P and MinkasuPay, has launched India’s first biometric authentication solution for e-commerce
card transactions, enabling users to approve payments using fingerprint
or face ID.This innovation eliminates the need for traditional OTPs, reducing
transaction time to just 3–4 seconds, while offering enhanced security and a
smoother user experience.The biometric solution aims to simplify and secure
online shopping, marking a significant leap in digital payment technology and
user convenience.
2. Russian Rouble’s Sharp Rise: The Russian rouble has surged by 45% against the US dollar since early 2025. This makes it one of the best performing currencies worldwide this year. The rise is mainly due to Russia’s tight monetary policy and optimism following US-Russia peace talks in February. However, the strong rouble presents mixed effects for Russia’s economy, especially under heavy sanctions. The Russian central bank’s high interest rates, exceeding 20%, attract savers and speculators seeking yield. This reduces demand for foreign currencies as borrowing costs remain high. The weak US dollar, down 6.6% since April 2025, also supports the rouble’s rise. Although the exchange rate floats freely, the central bank intervenes by selling Chinese yuan to maintain rouble stability and prevent arbitrage. A strong rouble reduces the rouble value of dollar-denominated energy exports. This lowers government revenues, as the 2025 budget is based on a rate of 94.3 roubles per dollar, but the current rate is near 78. Analysts estimate a potential 2.4% revenue loss this year. Exporters face difficulties as their goods become costlier for foreign buyers, shrinking income in dollar terms. Many Russian officials favour a weaker rouble around 100 per dollar to support trade and budget.
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