NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. ADB Approves $109.97 Million Loan to Boost Gujarat’s Skill Development and Industrial Workforce Readiness: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $109.97 million (approx. ₹927 crore) results-based loan to support Gujarat’s goal of becoming a global industrial hub by strengthening its workforce.The Gujarat Skills Development Programme, led by the state’s Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department in collaboration with Kaushalya: The Skill University (KSU), focuses on imparting advanced, industry-relevant skills to enhance job readiness in high-growth sectors.The initiative aims to boost institutional and managerial capacity within the KSU network and expand access to high-quality training, making Gujarat’s youth future-ready and globally competitive.
2. Govt Forms High-Level Panel to Probe Air India AI-171 Crash: The Government of India has constituted a multi-disciplinary high-level committee, chaired by the Union Home Secretary, to investigate the causes of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash that claimed 241 lives.The panel will review existing SOPs and recommend improvements for aviation safety and emergency protocols.The committee will assess flight data, maintenance records, and witness testimonies, review past air crashes, and evaluate rescue operations and inter-agency coordination. It aims to formulate a comprehensive SOP aligned with international best practices and is expected to submit its report within three months.
3. Karnataka Tops Nation in Wind Power Growth with 1,331 MW Addition in FY 2024–25: Karnataka achieved the highest wind power capacity addition in India during FY 2024–25, with 1,331.48 MW added, followed by Tamil Nadu (1,136.37 MW) and Gujarat (954.76 MW); the award was presented during Global Wind Day 2025 celebrations in Bengaluru.The state’s total installed wind power capacity has now reached 7,351 MW, with plans to implement 17 GW of additional wind projects, including over 5 GW under the Renewable Energy Cluster Programme.Karnataka signed ₹4 lakh crore worth of renewable energy investment agreements at the 2025 Global Investors Meet, comprising nearly 40% of the state’s total investment commitments.India currently ranks 4th in global wind energy generation with 51.5 GW installed capacity and aims to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, including 100 GW from wind, as highlighted by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
4. Sun Pharma Appoints Kirti Ganorkar as New MD; Dilip Shanghvi to Continue as Executive Director: Sun Pharmaceutical has appointed Kirti Ganorkar as its new Managing Director, effective from September 1, for a tenure of five years, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM on July 31.Dilip Shanghvi, the current Managing Director, will continue as Executive Director and Chairman of the Board, while Ganorkar, who has led the company’s India business since 2019, will now take over top leadership.The company also announced that Richard Ascroft will become the new CEO of Sun Pharma North America, replacing Abhay Gandhi, who resigned after 30 years of service.
4. Ganesh Baliga appointed as Managing Director of Citi India Solutions: Citi has appointed Ganesh Baliga as the Managing Director and Head of Citi India Solutions, reinforcing its focus on expanding technology and operations capabilities in India.In his new role, Baliga will lead the growth, innovation, and delivery of Citi’s global technology and solutions hubs across major Indian cities, aligning with Citi’s global tech strategy.Baliga’s previous roles as Global Head of Architecture and SVP – Application Development reflect his expertise in enterprise-level technology transformation and strategic leadership.
5. Yes Bank CEO Prashant Kumar’s Tenure Extended by RBI for Six Months: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved a six-month extension for Prashant Kumar as MD and CEO of YES Bank, effective October 6, 2025, or until a new CEO takes charge.Under section 35 B of the Banking Regulation Act 1949, Indian private banks need permission from the RBI to appoint a Chairman, Managing Director, or Chief Executive Officer.
6. Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Dies in Air India Plane Crash; Second Such Tragedy After 1965: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who served from August 2016 to September 2021, tragically died in an Air India Dreamliner crash shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London.The incident marks a historical parallel, as Rupani becomes the second former Gujarat CM to die in a plane crash, the first being Balwantrai Mehta in 1965.Vijay Rupani served as the 16th chief minister of Gujarat from August 2016 to September 2021.Rupani had resigned from his CM post ahead of the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, making way for new leadership within the state.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Katrina Kaif Named Global Brand Ambassador for Maldives Tourist : Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has been appointed as the global brand ambassador for Maldives tourism by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), alongside the launch of their summer sale campaign aimed at attracting global tourists.Katrina Kaif, with her widespread international appeal, is expected to boost the Maldives’ image as a luxury destination; she described the country as a perfect blend of “elegance and tranquility.”
2. Global Out-of-School Population: The latest report from UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Team marks rise in the global out-of-school population. As of 2025, the figure stands at 272 million, an increase of over 21 million from previous estimates. This alarming trend raises concerns about educational access and equity worldwide. The report indicates that 11% of primary school-age children, 15% of lower secondary adolescents, and 31% of upper secondary youths are out of school. The increase is attributed to two main factors – updated enrolment data and revised UN population estimates. New data reveals that 8 million of the increase stems from new enrolments, while 13 million is due to population adjustments.
3. India’s Aviation Safety Standards: India’s aviation industry has recently garnered attention for its impressive safety ratings. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conducted an audit in November 2022. The results showcased India’s advancements in aviation safety. India surpassed the global average in key categories such as operations and airworthiness. India’s Effective Implementation score rose to 85.65% from 69.95% in 2018. This score indicates improvements in aviation safety measures. The ICAO assesses countries on various criteria. These include legislation, organisation, licensing, operations, airworthiness, accident investigation, air navigation services, and aerodromes. India scored above the global average in all eight categories during the audit.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. US’ Military Parade: The US Army is set to commemorate its 250th anniversary with a grand military parade in Washington on June 14. This date coincides with US President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and Flag Day. The parade marks moment in American history, celebrating the establishment of the Army by the Second Continental Congress. It is the first military parade since 1991’s Victory Celebration and is expected to cost between $25 million and $45 million. The 19th century saw the rise of nationalism in Europe, transforming military parades into expressions of national pride. The Prussian army played important role in shaping modern military parades. They introduced formations and styles that became standard in military displays. The goose-step, a hallmark of the Nazi army, originated from these early Prussian practices. Parades became a way for nations to galvanise public sentiment and demonstrate military strength.
SPORTS
1. Arunachal’s Yajik Hillang Creates History with Gold at South Asian Bodybuilding Championship 2025: Yajik Hillang from Arunachal Pradesh made history by winning the Gold medal in the Women’s Model Physique (up to 155 cm) category at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2025 held in Thimphu, Bhutan.She became the first female Physique Sports athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to win a Gold medal at an international event, marking a significant achievement for the state in the field of bodybuilding and fitness.The 5-day championship, organized by the South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation, saw participation from multiple South Asian countries and is officially recognized by the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (WBPF).
2. BCCI Forms Committee to Draft Victory Celebration Guidelines After Bengaluru Stampede: Following the tragic stampede during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations in Bengaluru, the BCCI has formed a committee to draft comprehensive guidelines for conducting safe and orderly celebration events. The decision was made at the 28th Apex Council Meeting.The newly formed BCCI committee will be chaired by Devajit Saikia, with Prabhtej Singh Bhatia and Rajeev Shukla as members. The committee has been given 15 days to submit the proposed guidelines.
3. South Africa Win First ICC Title in 27 Years, Clinch WTC 2025: The South African men’s cricket team won the 3rd ICC World Test Championship, defeating defending champion Australia by five wickets.This was the first major cricket title for the South African team, also known as Proteas, since the 1998 ICC Knockout Championship (later renamed ICC Champions Trophy), held in Kenya.Also, it was the first time in the last 15 years that Australia lost in an ICC Tournament. England defeated Australia in the 2010 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final in the West Indies.The 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship final was played at the Lord’s cricket ground in London, England, from 11 to 14 June 2025.Man of the Match – Aiden Makram of South Africa
4. Fourth ICC Test Championship 2025-27 Cycle: The fourth ICC Test Championship 2025-27 cycle will commence with the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Test match starting on 17 June 2025 in Galle, Sri Lanka.Seventy-one test matches will be played over the next two cricketing seasons, with the top nine-ranked teams on the ICC Test Team ranking.India will play 18 Test matches in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.India will host the West Indies, South Africa, and Australia and play away series in England, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI Directs Banks to Enable KYC Updates and Account Reactivation at All Branches, Including Non-Home Locations: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has instructed all banks to provide facilities for KYC updation and activation of inoperative accounts and unclaimed deposits at all branches, including non-home branches.Banks have been encouraged to adopt video-based customer identification processes (V-CIP) and involve authorised Business Correspondents (BCs) to help customers update KYC and reactivate accounts, especially in remote areas.The RBI has asked banks to organise special KYC updation camps, particularly in rural and semi-urban branches, where pendency of periodic KYC updation is significantly high.These instructions were issued in response to high KYC pendency in accounts linked to Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), scholarship schemes, and accounts opened under PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), aiming to make the process more convenient and accessible.
2. Maruti Suzuki Signs MoU with Equitas Small Finance Bank to Boost Retail Vehicle Financing: Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has signed an MoU with Equitas Small Finance Bank to establish a strategic vehicle financing partnership aimed at providing retail financing solutions for new cars, used cars, and commercial vehicles.This collaboration will enhance the accessibility and affordability of Maruti Suzuki vehicles by leveraging Equitas Bank’s growing customer base and offering competitive, tailored financing solutions.The partnership was formalized in the presence of senior officials from both organisations, including Partho Banerjee (Senior Executive Officer, MSIL) and Jagadesh J (Head Retail Assets, Equitas Bank).
3. MSC Bank Launches India’s First Cyber-Security Operation Centre for Cooperative Banks in Navi Mumbai: Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSC Bank) has launched the country’s first dedicated cybersecurity centre for cooperative banks, named ‘Sahakar Suraksha’, located in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, with an investment of ₹50 crore to counter rising cyber threats.The AI-powered C-SOC provides 24×7 threat detection, real-time alerts, and free cybersecurity services to 31 district central cooperative banks in Maharashtra, especially targeting rural and small banks that lack technical and financial resources.
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