NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Union Cabinet Approves ₹2,000 Crore Grant-in-Aid to
NCDC to Boost Cooperative Sector and Employment Generation: The Union Cabinet,
chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a Central Sector Scheme titled “Grant-in-Aid to
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)” with a total outlay of ₹2,000 crore for four years
(FY 2025–26 to 2028–29), with ₹500 crore allocated annually.Using
this ₹2,000 crore grant, the NCDC will raise ₹20,000 crore from the open market
to provide loans to cooperatives for setting up new projects, expanding plants,
and meeting working capital needs.The scheme is expected to benefit around 2.9
crore members of 13,288 cooperative societies across sectors such as dairy,
livestock, fisheries, textiles, food processing, storage, cold storage, labour,
and women-led cooperatives.It aims to promote income generation, capacity
building, modernization, and employment creation, while also encouraging
women’s participation and helping bridge socio-economic gaps through
cooperative development.
2. Sonali Mishra Becomes First Woman Director General of
RPF in 143-Year History: Sonali
Mishra, a 1983-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has
been appointed as the Director
General (DG) of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), becoming the
first woman to head the force in its 143-year history.Her appointment was
approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, and she will serve as DG
of RPF until her superannuation on October 31, 2026.
3. Deepak Reddy Appointed as CEO of Manappuram Finance: Deepak Reddy has
been appointed as the new Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Manappuram Finance, where he will lead the
company and its subsidiaries into the next phase of growth, focusing on gold
loans, vehicle finance, microfinance, MSME loans, housing finance, and digital
lending.Reddy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a PGDM from TAPMI,
Manipal, and brings with him rich experience in financial services and
leadership roles.He previously worked with Bajaj Finserv for over 17 years,
including as Head of HR at Bajaj Finance, and also held senior positions at
American Express, where he managed personal loans and platinum credit cards.
4. 1 August – National Mountain Climbing Day: National Mountain Climbing Day is
observed every year on 1st August to
honour the courage, resilience, and achievements of mountain climbers across
the world.The day was established in the United States in memory of Bobby
Matthews and Josh Madigan, who successfully climbed all the 46 High Peaks of
New York’s Adirondack Mountains on August 1, 2005.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 1 – 7 August – World Breastfeeding Week: World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is observed every
year from 1st to 7th August to promote and support breastfeeding
globally. It is a joint initiative by WHO, UNICEF, ministries of health, and
civil society partners.WBW 2025 emphasizes the importance of continued
healthcare support for mothers and babies as part of WHO’s Healthy beginnings,
hopeful futures campaign launched earlier in the year.The official theme for
WBW 2025 is “Invest in breastfeeding,
invest in the future,” highlighting the potential to save over 820,000
children’s lives annually by improving breastfeeding practices.
2. Barbados Threadsnake: The Barbados threadsnake,
the world’s smallest-known snake, was rediscovered in 2025 after nearly two
decades without a confirmed sighting. This tiny, elusive reptile had been
feared extinct. Its rediscovery has renewed interest in the island’s unique
biodiversity and the urgent need to protect endangered habitats. First
scientifically identified in 2008 by S. Blair Hedges, a biology professor at Temple
University, the snake was previously mistaken for a similar species, the
Brahminy blind snake. The discovery came after genetic analysis confirmed it as
a new species. Before this, only three specimens were known, held in museums in
London and California. The species was named in honour of Hedges’ wife, Carla.
The snake’s cryptic nature and tiny size mean it can easily be overlooked.
Scientists can search for hours without spotting one. Recently, after a year of
searching, Connor Blades from Barbados’ Ministry of Environment finally found a
specimen under a rock in a small forest. The snake’s wriggling made
identification difficult even under a microscope. A still image helped confirm
its identity.
3. Bhutan-India Dorjilung Hydropower Project:
The recent launch of the
Dorjilung Hydropower Project in Bhutan marks milestone in regional clean energy
collaboration. This 1125 MW project is a joint venture between Bhutan’s Druk
Green Power Corporation (DGPC) and India’s Tata Power Company Limited. It represents
a strategic shift towards private sector participation and shared
infrastructure development between the two nations. Construction has begun with
foundational infrastructure such as access roads and bridges. Two Bhutanese
contractors, Chimi RD Construction and KD Builders, are responsible for these
works with contracts valued at Nu/₹479 million combined. The total project cost
is estimated at $1.7 billion (around Nu/₹150 billion). The World Bank is
financing the project, marking an important shift from traditional government
grants towards investment-based funding.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan Assumes Charge as
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command: Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, AVSM, VSM took over as the Flag
Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, succeeding Vice
Admiral Sanjay J Singh after his retirement.Commissioned into the Indian Navy
in July 1987, Vice Admiral Swaminathan is a specialist in Communication and
Electronic Warfare and has commanded key warships including INS Vikramaditya,
Mysore, Kulish, Vinash, and Vidyut.
2. Navy takes delivery of Project 17A frigate Himgiri
from GRSE: Himgiri, the
third ship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) and the first of its class built by GRSE Kolkata, has been
delivered to the Indian Navy.The new Himgiri is equipped with BrahMos
cruise missiles, Barak 8 air defence missiles, AESA radar, and modern combat
systems, and is capable of anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare,
showcasing a major boost in India’s naval combat capabilities.With 75%
indigenous content, the warship project has involved 200+ MSMEs and provided
employment to over 4,000 personnel directly and 10,000 indirectly, further
strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.Designed by the Warship
Design Bureau and launched in December 2020, the ship is a reincarnation of the
old INS Himgiri, which was decommissioned in May 2025 after serving the nation
for 30 years.
SPORTS
1. Khalid Jamil Appointed Head Coach of Indian Men’s
Football Team: Khalid Jamil has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian men’s national football team, becoming
the first Indian in 13 years to hold this prestigious position.He is well-known
for leading Aizawl FC to a historic I-League title in 2017, a remarkable
achievement in Indian football history.Jamil, currently coaching Jamshedpur FC
in the Indian Super League (ISL), was selected by the AIFF executive committee
from a shortlist of three candidates.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. DPIIT Signs MoU with Roche India to Boost Innovation
and Startup Growth in Healthcare Sector: The Department
for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed an MoU
with Roche India to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the healthcare
sector.The partnership aims to support DPIIT-recognised startups working in key
therapeutic areas such as oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, haematology, and
rare diseases.Roche India will offer mentorship from global experts, assistance
with pilot and validation studies, and access to advanced technologies,
infrastructure, and international platforms.
2. DPIIT Signs MoU with HDFC Capital to Boost Innovation
in Affordable Housing and PropTech through H@ART Programme: The Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed an MoU with HDFC Capital Advisors
Limited to encourage innovation and support startups in the affordable
housing and PropTech sectors.The collaboration will leverage the H@ART
Programme (HDFC Affordable Real Estate and Technology Programme), aimed at
increasing efficiency and lowering costs in residential real estate
development.The programme seeks to foster innovation by building connections
with affordable housing developers and investing in emerging PropTech
companies.Mentorship opportunities will be provided through partnerships with
accelerators, academic institutions, and investors, creating a robust support
ecosystem for startups.
3. Rajarajan Appointed as New Director of Vikram Sarabhai
Space Centre: Rajarajan, a senior ISRO scientist, has
been appointed as the new Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC),
succeeding Unnikrishnan Nair.Before this appointment, Rajarajan served as
the Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota and
has nearly four decades of experience in ISRO.He joined VSSC in January 1987
and has held several leadership roles, specializing in the design and
development of launch vehicles and spacecraft composite systems.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s Fiscal Deficit Reaches ₹2.8 Lakh Crore or
17.9% of Full-Year Target by June 2025: CGA Data: As per data released by the Controller General
of Accounts (CGA), the central
government’s fiscal deficit reached ₹80 lakh crore, which is 17.9% of the full-year target for FY
2025-26 by the end of June 2025.The Centre’s net tax revenue stood at ₹5.4 lakh
crore, accounting for 19% of the Budget Estimates (BE) for FY 2025-26 — lower than
21.3% in the same period last fiscal year.
Total
government expenditure in April–June 2025 was ₹12.22 lakh crore, or 24.1% of
the full-year BE, compared to 20.1% in the same quarter of the previous
financial year.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Shah Rukh Khan bags his career’s first National Film Award for ‘Jawan’: Shah Rukh Khan won his first-ever National Award, sharing the Best Actor award with Vikrant Massey for their performances in Jawan and 12th Fail, respectively, marking a major milestone in SRK’s illustrious career.Rani Mukerji received the Best Actress award for her powerful performance in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, while Sudipto Sen won Best Director for his controversial and impactful film The Kerala Story.
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