NATIONAL 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. 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.
3. Utpal Kumar Singh Appointed as New
CEO of Sansad TV: Utpal Kumar Singh, currently serving as
Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, has been appointed as the CEO of
Sansad TV, replacing Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Bihar
cadre.Sansad TV is a public broadcaster that telecasts live parliamentary
proceedings, and Singh’s appointment comes during the ongoing restructuring of
media and communication roles within Parliament.
4. Uma Kanjilal Appointed First Woman
Vice Chancellor of IGNOU After Four Decades: Professor
Uma Kanjilal has become the first woman Vice Chancellor of Indira
Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), four decades after its
establishment, marking a significant milestone in the university’s history.With
over 36 years of experience in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), she brings
expertise in digital education, library science, and academic leadership,
having previously served as Pro Vice Chancellor and acting Vice Chancellor at
IGNOU.
5. Anuradha Thakur Appointed as Director on the RBI
Central Board: Anuradha Thakur, Secretary of the
Department of Economic Affairs, has been nominated as a Director on the
Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by the Central
Government.She replaces Ajay Seth, who has been appointed as the new Chairman
of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 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.
2. 25 July – World Drowning Prevention Day: World Drowning Prevention Day is observed annually on 25
July, following its declaration by the UN General Assembly in April 2021
(Resolution A/RES/75/273), to raise awareness about the devastating impact of
drowning and promote preventive actions.Drowning claims an estimated 236,000
lives each year globally, making it a major public health concern, especially
in low- and middle-income countries with poor water safety infrastructure.It is
the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths, accounting for 7%
of all such fatalities, and is a top cause of death among children and young
people aged 1–24 years.
3. 25 July – International Day for Women and Girls of
African Descent: The International Day for Women and Girls
of African Descent is observed every year on July 25th to
recognise and honour their contributions, identity, and rights.Women and girls
of African descent often face multiple layers of discrimination—racial,
gender-based, and socio-economic—making them one of the most marginalised
groups globally.The day highlights the need for inclusive policies, cultural
affirmation, and human rights-based approaches to empower and uplift women and
girls of African heritage.
4. 25 July – International Day on Judicial Well-being: The International Day on Judicial Well-being is observed every
year on 25th July to recognise the mental, emotional, and physical
well-being of judges and judicial officers.The day highlights the importance of
a healthy judicial ecosystem, promoting work-life balance, mental health
support, and institutional reforms to reduce stress and burnout in the
judiciary.Ensuring judicial well-being is vital for maintaining judicial
independence, efficiency, and integrity, as well as upholding the rule of law
in a fair and just manner.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. France to Recognise Palestinian State in
2025: France has
announced it will officially recognise the State of Palestine in September
2025. This decision marks the first time a G7 nation will grant formal
recognition. The announcement is expected to be made during the UN General
Assembly session in New York. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised the
urgent need to end the war in Gaza, secure humanitarian aid, and achieve a
lasting peace in the Middle East. France’s recognition follows escalating
conflict in Gaza after Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023. Macron called
for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and demilitarisation of
Hamas. He stressed the importance of rebuilding Gaza and ensuring the viability
of a Palestinian state that accepts Israel’s security. Palestinian leaders
welcomed the move as support for their right to self-determination. Israel and
its key allies, including the US and the UK, strongly opposed the decision.
2. India Tests ULPGM-V3: India achieved milestone
in defence technology with the successful test-firing of the UAV Launched
Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3. Conducted at the National Open Area Range
(NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, this trial marks a major boost to India’s
missile capabilities. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
led the development and testing, reflecting India’s growing self-reliance in
advanced defence systems. The ULPGM-V3 is a precision-guided missile launched
from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is designed for high accuracy strikes
on ground targets while minimising risks to personnel. This variant is an
extended-range version, building on earlier models like ULPGM-V2. It
incorporates advanced technologies such as imaging infrared (IIR) seekers and
dual-thrust propulsion systems. The missile suits modern battlefield demands
with its lightweight and versatile design.
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. Global Tobacco Epidemic: The global tobacco
epidemic continues to pose a
severe health threat in 2025. Despite decades of awareness, tobacco use claims
millions of lives annually. Women face unique health challenges linked to
tobacco. New nicotine products complicate control efforts. Effective policies
remain crucial to curb tobacco-related deaths worldwide. Tobacco use causes around
7.3 million deaths yearly. Over the past 30 years, tobacco-related deaths have
reached 200 million. Smoking is a leading cause of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Many of these diseases are
preventable. The tobacco industry still aggressively markets products,
increasing the global health burden.
3. Mycorrhizal Fungi Hotspots: Recent studies reveal
that over 90 per cent of mycorrhizal fungi hotspots lie outside protected
areas. These fungi are crucial for nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and
plant health. Despite their importance, they have been largely ignored in
climate and conservation policies. The Society for the Protection of
Underground Networks (SPUN) has created a digital atlas to map their global
distribution. This effort aims to raise awareness and promote the inclusion of
mycorrhizal fungi in environmental agendas. Mycorrhizal fungi live
symbiotically with more than 80 per cent of plant species. They help plants
absorb nutrients such as phosphorus from the soil. They also capture carbon
dioxide released by plant roots, storing about 13 billion tonnes of CO2
annually. This amount equals roughly one-third of global fossil fuel emissions.
These fungi support soil health, plant growth and ecosystem stability.
4. NASA’s TRACERS Mission: NASA’s TRACERS mission
recently launched to study how Earth’s magnetic shield protects the planet from
space weather effects. The twin satellites aim to understand magnetic
reconnection, a key process in space weather that influences phenomena such as
the aurora and satellite disruptions. TRACERS will operate in low Earth orbit,
passing through the polar cusps where solar wind interacts with Earth’s
magnetosphere. TRACERS was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from
California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. Along with TRACERS, three small NASA
satellites—Athena EPIC, PExT, and REAL—were deployed to test new technologies
and collect scientific data. Communication with both TRACERS satellites was
established within hours after deployment. The mission entered a four-week
commissioning phase to check instruments and systems before starting its main
scientific operations.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Direct Benefit Transfer in Fertilizer
Subsidy System: The
Government of India continues to implement the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
system for fertilizer subsidies as of 2025. This system ensures that subsidies
reach farmers directly through fertiliser companies based on actual sales
verified by Aadhaar authentication at retail points. The scheme guarantees
subsidised fertiliser supply to all farmers without discrimination. Under the
DBT system, fertiliser companies receive 100% subsidy on various fertiliser
grades based on actual sales to farmers. Sales are authenticated through Point
of Sale (PoS) devices linked to the beneficiaries’ Aadhaar numbers. This method
prevents diversion and ensures transparency. All farmers, irrespective of size,
access fertilisers at subsidised rates. The scheme operates on a no-denial
basis, meaning any Aadhaar-verified farmer can purchase fertilisers with
subsidy benefits.
2. PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: The Government of India has introduced the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY), a major employment-linked incentive scheme starting from 1 August 2025. The scheme aims to generate over 3.5 crore new jobs in two years. It focuses on inclusive and sustainable employment, especially in the manufacturing sector. With a budget of Rs 99,446 crore, the scheme targets first-time workers and supports employers to boost job creation. PM-VBRY is designed to accelerate economic growth through job-led development. It incentivises both employees and employers to create and sustain employment. The scheme runs from August 2025 to July 2027. It is divided into two parts – Part A for first-time employees and Part B for employers generating additional jobs.
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