NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Centre approves Rs 1,900 crore plan for PM MITRA park
in Virudhunagar: Union Textiles
Minister Giriraj Singh announced approval of a ₹1,894 crore development plan for the PM MITRA Park in
Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, reinforcing the state’s ambition to remain
India’s textile powerhouse with next-generation manufacturing facilities.The
1,052-acre park will focus on technical textiles and integrated processing
units, featuring a 15-MLD zero liquid discharge effluent treatment plant, a
5-MLD sewage treatment plant, accommodation for 10,000 workers, and 1.3 million
sq ft of modern factory space.The project, formalised in 2023 after extensive
negotiations between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union Textile Ministry,
is expected to attract ₹10,000 crore in investments and generate around one
lakh jobs by its targeted completion in September 2026.
2. Santosh Kumar Takhele Assumes Additional Charge as
Regional Executive Director (West-I), NTPC Ltd.: Santosh Kumar Takhele has
taken additional charge as
Regional Executive Director (West-I) at NTPC Ltd.He has served in key
NTPC locations including Singrauli, WR-I HQ, Kanti, Farakka, and the Corporate
Centre, contributing significantly to each assignment.He will continue as CEO
of Ratnagiri Gas and Power Pvt. Ltd. (RGPPL) while leading NTPC’s Western
Region-I, leveraging his extensive experience to drive regional performance
excellence.
3. Sahil Kini Appointed as CEO of Reserve Bank Innovation
Hub (RBIH) to Drive Fintech Innovation: Sahil Kini has been appointed
as the new CEO of the Reserve Bank
Innovation Hub (RBIH), a fintech subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of
India, succeeding Rajesh Bansal who completed his five-year term in April
2025.Kini brings rich experience as a member of the core IndiaStack team, where
he contributed to major product innovations and policy frameworks instrumental
in building India’s digital financial infrastructure.Under his leadership, RBIH
aims to drive fresh entrepreneurial energy and advanced product innovation,
continuing its mission of technology-led transformation in India’s financial
sector.
4. Eshwar Karra Appointed Deputy Managing Director at
Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd.:
Eshwar Karra has been appointed as Deputy
Managing Director at Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd., reinforcing
the firm’s leadership in the alternative investment sector.With over 20 years
of experience at Kotak Mahindra Group, Karra has established himself as a
seasoned leader in financial services and alternative investments.Prior to this
new role, he served as Managing Partner at Kotak Alts, where he was
instrumental in shaping the firm’s Private Credit strategy and driving business
growth.
5. Sudhanshu Mittal Re-elected President of Kho Kho
Federation of India: Sudhanshu Mittal has been re-elected as President of the Kho Kho
Federation of India (KKFI), following successful elections held at
the federation’s headquarters in New Delhi.The newly elected Governing Body
includes Upkar Singh Virk as General Secretary, along with eight Vice
Presidents, four Joint Secretaries, and 13 Executive Members.Kho Kho, currently
played in 58 countries, aims to expand its presence to 90 nations this year,
reflecting the sport’s growing international footprint.
6. Amitabh Kant Appointed as Non-Executive Director on
IndiGo Board: Amitabh
Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO and India’s G20 Sherpa, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director on the
Board of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo’s parent company), subject
to regulatory and shareholder approvals.Kant brings over four decades of
bureaucratic experience across key positions, and he expressed optimism about
contributing to IndiGo’s efforts to expand internationally, boost tourism, and
enhance India’s connectivity and economic growth.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 6-Year-Old Teghbir Singh Sets World Record as Youngest
to Summit Mount Elbrus: Teghbir Singh, a 6-year-old from Punjab, set
a new world record as the youngest mountaineer to scale Mount Elbrus (18,510
ft), Europe and Russia’s highest peak.His training, guided by coach
Bikramjit Singh Ghuman and supported by his parents, was crucial in this achievement,
earning him certification from the Mountaineering Federation of
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic in Russia.
Earlier,
in 2024, Teghbir became the youngest Asian to scale Mt Kilimanjaro and also
trekked to the Everest Base Camp, securing his place in the Asia Book of
Records and India Book of Records.
2. Ghana and India Launch Climate-Resilient Wheat
Initiative to Boost Food Security: Ghana, in collaboration with India,
has launched a climate-resilient
wheat initiative aimed at developing wheat varieties that can
withstand the impacts of climate change and improve food security.The
initiative focuses on introducing high-yield, heat- and drought-tolerant wheat
strains suitable for Ghana’s agro-climatic conditions, enhancing the country’s
agricultural resilience.This India-Ghana partnership is expected to strengthen
bilateral cooperation in agriculture, promote sustainable farming practices,
and reduce dependence on wheat imports.
3. Suriname Becomes First Amazon Country Certified
Malaria-Free by WHO: Suriname has
become the first country in the
Amazon region to receive malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO),
marking the culmination of nearly 70 years of dedicated efforts to eliminate
malaria across its rainforests and diverse populations.With Suriname’s
certification, the total number of WHO-certified malaria-free countries and
territories has risen to 47, including 12 countries in the Region of the
Americas, showcasing global progress in the fight against malaria.
4. Russia Becomes First Country to Recognise
Taliban Government: Russia made a
historic move in July 2025 by formally recognising the Taliban government in Afghanistan. This
decision followed the removal of the Taliban from Russia’s list of outlawed
organisations. It marks the first official recognition of the Taliban regime
since it took power in 2021. The development signals a new phase in
international relations with Afghanistan and has geopolitical implications. The
Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021 after ousting the previous
government. Since then, they have sought international recognition to stabilise
the country and attract investment. While some countries accepted Taliban
ambassadors, none had officially recognised the regime until Russia’s
announcement. Russia’s move follows years of cautious engagement and reflects
its strategic interests in the region.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. IG Drones Patents India’s First Indigenous Defence
Drone Simulator: IG Drones has received a patent
for India’s first indigenous defence drone simulator, designed to
provide high-fidelity, realistic training for the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force,
and paramilitary forces, enabling mastery of combat drone operations in
challenging simulated environments.Built with advanced AI, physics-based
engines, and real-time terrain dynamics, the simulator offers a secure,
cost-effective alternative to foreign systems, eliminating dependency and
showcasing India’s technological resurgence in defence.Previously unveiled by
Prime Minister Modi at Defence Expo 2022, IG Drones’ systems, including VTOL,
FPV, and kamikaze drones, have been used in Operation Sindoor for strategic
surveillance, mapping, and targeted strikes, reflecting India’s growing
confidence in indigenous unmanned defence solutions aligned with the Viksit
Bharat 2047 mission.
SPORTS
1. Divyanshi Bhowmick Creates History with Gold in U-15
Girls’ Singles at Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships: India’s Divyanshi Bhowmick made history by winning
gold in the U-15 Girls’ Singles at the 29th Asian Youth Championships in
Tashkent, defeating China’s Zhu Qihi 4-2 in the final.With this victory,
second-seeded Divyanshi also secured a berth for the World Youth Championships,
showcasing her rising stature in international table tennis.India finished the
tournament with one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, while top seeds
Ankur Bhattacharyya and P.B. Abhinand missed a medal in U-19 Boys’ Doubles
after an unexpected loss.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Mobile PDS Shops: The Tamil Nadu State government launched
a pilot project to deliver essential commodities directly to senior citizens
and persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Chennai. This initiative aims to
improve access to the public distribution system (PDS) for those who may
struggle to visit traditional fair price shops. The project, which involves
mobile shops, is designed to cater to around 5,000 beneficiaries across various
regions. Mobile shops are vehicles equipped with essential goods. They travel
to the residences of beneficiaries, providing convenience and accessibility.
Each truck is staffed with a shopkeeper, who manages transactions using a
weighing machine and a palm reader for identification. This system streamlines
the distribution process and ensures that vulnerable populations receive
necessary items.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Slice Opens India’s First UPI-Powered Bank Branch in
Bengaluru: Fintech company Slice has launched its first
UPI-powered bank branch in Bengaluru, marking a major step towards
integrating digital payments with traditional banking.The branch aims to offer
seamless UPI transactions directly within the bank, enhancing customer
convenience and promoting cashless banking.This innovative model is expected to
redefine branch banking experiences in India, blending physical branches with
modern payment technologies.
2. Mashreq Becomes First UAE Bank to Get In-Principle
Approval for Branch in GIFT City: Mashreq has become the first UAE-based bank to receive in-principle
approval (IPA) to set up a branch in GIFT City, after securing approvals
from the UAE Central Bank and SEZ authorities.The GIFT City branch is expected
to start operations by the fourth quarter of 2025, pending final regulatory
clearances from the International Financial Services Centres Authority
(IFSCA).The new branch will offer services such as foreign currency loans,
trade finance, treasury, and risk management products, benefiting from
regulatory incentives like initial TDS exemptions to enhance competitive
financial solutions.
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