NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. VOC Port Becomes First in India to Produce Green
Hydrogen: O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Thoothukudi has
become the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen and generate over 1
MW of rooftop solar power.The “Green Ports and Shipping – Chartering
Sustainable Maritime Future” conference, held under the NAVIC Cell-3 initiative
of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, aims to promote net-zero
emissions in India’s maritime sector and showcases key developments like a
planned green methanol bunkering facility and solid-waste-based methanol
production.Experts, including Vijay Kumar (IWAI), Abhay Bakre (NGHM), and Vibha
Dhawan (TERI) emphasised coordinated efforts toward India’s 2070 net-zero goal
through renewable energy adoption, promotion of green fuels like hydrogen and
ammonia, and energy-efficient port equipment and policies.
2. India Launches First Scientifically Authenticated
Monofloral Lavender Honey: India has developed
its first scientifically bio-authenticated monofloral lavender honey, a
landmark achievement led by CSIR–IIIM at its Pulwama Field Station in
Jammu & Kashmir, under the CSIR Floriculture Mission.The honey, derived
from Lavandula angustifolia, was scientifically validated using advanced
methods like fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy,
melissopalynology, GC-MS, and DNA barcoding, making it India’s first honey with
such comprehensive authentication.This innovation is expected to promote
functional foods, sustainable agriculture, and rural entrepreneurship, offering
a market-ready, export-oriented product backed by scientific research and rural
empowerment goals.
3. Buddha’s Sacred Piprahwa Relics Returned to India
After 127 Years: The sacred relics of the Buddha,
originally excavated from Piprahwa (Uttar Pradesh) in 1898,
were returned to India after 127 years, following successful diplomatic
efforts to prevent their auction in Hong Kong.The Government of India, with
support from the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), coordinated with
global Buddhist networks and international missions to halt the Sotheby’s
auction, where the relics reappeared alongside ornaments linked to the 1898
excavation.The relics, linked to the Sakya clan—Buddha’s family—were originally
discovered by British engineer William Claxton Peppe, and their return has been
hailed as a powerful example of cultural diplomacy rooted in dharma and
heritage.
4. LTIMindtree gets ₹792 cr contract from IT dept to
overhaul PAN services: LTIMindtree has secured a ₹792 crore
contract for the Income Tax Department’s PAN 2.0 project, making it one of
the largest government e-governance projects awarded to a mid-tier IT company,
as it aims to modernise taxpayer registration and PAN/TAN services.The PAN 2.0
initiative, with a total budget of ₹1,435 crore, will consolidate services
currently spread across the e-Filing Portal, UTIITSL, and Protean e-Gov portals
into a single unified digital platform, streamlining processes like Aadhaar-PAN
linking, allotment, re-issuance, updates, and validation.Set to go live in 18
months, the project will introduce technology-driven innovation and enhanced
security features to improve the taxpayer experience and efficiency of PAN/TAN
issuance and management across India.
5. CM M.K. Stalin Inaugurates VinFast’s First EV Plant in
India at Thoothukudi: Tamil Nadu CM M.K.
Stalin inaugurated VinFast’s first EV manufacturing plant in
India, at Thoothukudi, built in just 17 months on a 408-acre
site under a ₹16,000-crore MoU signed during the 2024 Global Investors
Meet.The plant, located in the SIPCOT industrial complex at Sillanatham, will
initially produce 50,000 EVs annually, with capacity scaling up to 1.5 lakh
units and creating over 3,500 jobs in the next five years, contributing to
Tamil Nadu’s leadership in EV manufacturing.CM Stalin highlighted that 40% of
India’s EVs are made in Tamil Nadu, and praised VinFast for employing local
youth under the ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ initiative while inviting parent company
Vingroup to expand into sectors like education, healthcare, and technology in
the State.
6. First BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival Held in New
Delhi: The first BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival,
titled ‘SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody’, was held at Bharat
Mandapam in New Delhi, featuring performances by artists from all seven BIMSTEC
countries — India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and
Thailand.External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the event,
emphasizing that music acts as a bridge between nations, expresses cultural
identity, and reflects the soul and dignity of society through its unifying
power.The festival was organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations
(ICCR) as a follow-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment at the April
2025 BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand to enhance cultural cooperation through
traditional music.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. P B Balaji Appointed CEO of Jaguar Land Rover: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has appointed P B
Balaji as its next Chief Executive Officer, making him the first
Indian executive to lead the Tata Motors-owned British luxury carmaker.Balaji,
currently serving as Group CFO at Tata Motors, will assume the role of CEO in
November 2025, succeeding Adrian Mardell, who is set to retire at the end of
his contract.
2. World Bank Income Classification System: The World Bank’s income
classification system remains a key tool for comparing countries by income.
Updated annually, it sorts countries into four groups based on gross national
income (GNI) per capita. This system helps researchers and policymakers
understand global economic diversity clearly and consistently. In 2024, the
World Bank continued to classify countries into low, lower-middle,
upper-middle, and high-income groups. These categories are based on fixed
income thresholds adjusted yearly for inflation. Over the past two decades,
many countries have shifted upward in income groups, reflecting economic
growth. However, some have moved downward due to conflicts or crises. GNI per
capita measures the average income of a country’s residents, including income
earned abroad. It is reported in local currency and converted to US dollars
using exchange rates. This standardisation allows for consistent comparison across
countries. The World Bank uses GNI per capita as the sole criterion for income
classification.
3. Hong Kong Enforces Stablecoin Licensing: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)
enforced the Stablecoins Ordinance starting August 1, 2025. This new law aims
to regulate stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency linked to assets like fiat
currencies. The move follows rising global interest in stablecoins for finance
and trade. It sets clear rules for issuers and protects investors from
unregulated risks. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain stable
values. They differ from volatile coins like Bitcoin or Ether. Their value is
pegged to assets such as the US dollar, euro, gold, or other cryptocurrencies.
This pegging helps keep their price steady, making them useful for everyday
transactions and trading. Stablecoins are widely used for trading and
cross-border payments. In countries with unstable currencies, they help people
preserve savings. The global stablecoin market is worth over $250 billion.
Regulation ensures issuers hold adequate reserves and disclose assets
transparently. It reduces risks of fraud and financial instability.
4. India-Brazil Biofuels Alliance: The India-Brazil
partnership on biofuels is gaining momentum amid rising global trade tensions
and shifting energy geopolitics. While the India-US trade relationship faces
strain due to tariffs and disagreements, India and Brazil are deepening
cooperation through the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA). This alliance focuses
on sustainable biofuel adoption and energy security, positioning itself as a
key player in the global low-carbon transition. Recently, the United States
imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports. This move stalled bilateral
trade talks aimed at expanding trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. Key Indian
export sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and electronics face
vulnerability in the US market. Despite this, India continues its strategic
cooperation with Brazil and the US within the GBA framework, balancing trade
conflicts with clean energy collaboration.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi Inaugurates ‘Agnishodh’
Research Cell at IIT Madras: Chief
of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi inaugurated ‘Agnishodh’, the Indian Army Research Cell at IIT Madras, to convert academic
research into defence-ready technologies aligned with the Army’s Five Pillars
of Transformation and the vision of “Swadeshikaran Se Sashaktikaran”.The centre
will collaborate with IIT Madras Research Park, AMTDC, and Pravartak
Technologies Foundation, focusing on advanced domains like additive
manufacturing, quantum computing, cybersecurity, wireless communication, and
unmanned aerial systems, while also upskilling military personnel.During his
two-day visit, Gen. Dwivedi addressed OTA Chennai on grey zone warfare and
hailed Operation Sindoor as a historic tri-service mission that forced a
ceasefire within 88 hours; he also honoured four veterans with Veteran
Achievers Awards.
2. Dr. Mayank Sharma Assumes Charge as Financial Advisor
(Defence Services): Mayank
Sharma took charge as the
Financial Advisor (Defence Services). He is a 1989-batch officer
from the Indian Defence Accounts Service with over 30 years of experience in
various key government roles.He has represented India on multiple international
platforms, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the UN Commission on
Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and the UN Commission on International
Trade Law.
3. India Receives Final C-295 Aircraft from Spain: India has received
the final unit of 16 Airbus C-295
military transport aircraft from Spain, completing the first phase of
the ₹21,000 crore deal signed in September 2021 to modernize the Indian Air
Force’s transport fleet.The C-295 aircraft, with 5–10 tonne capacity and up to
11 hours of flight endurance, will replace the IAF’s ageing Avro fleet and
enhance tactical transport capabilities with advanced technology.Under the
C-295 program, 40 of the total 56 aircraft will be manufactured in India,
marking a major step toward defence indigenisation and boosting the ‘Make in
India’ initiative in the aerospace sector.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. BSNL and NRL Sign MoU to Launch India’s First 5G CNPN
in Refinery Sector: BSNL and Numaligarh
Refinery Limited (NRL) have signed a landmark MoU to
implement India’s first 5G Captive
Non-Public Network (CNPN) in the refinery sector, marking a major
step towards Industry 4.0 adoption in critical industries.The collaboration
aims to deliver secure, ultra-reliable, and real-time industrial connectivity
using indigenous 5G infrastructure, enhancing mission-critical operations
within the refinery environment.Signed during the “Industry 4.0 Workshop for
CPSEs” in Guwahati, the partnership is expected to serve as a replicable model
for other sectors, driving digital transformation across India’s industrial
landscape.
2. National Medicinal Plants Board Signs Two MoUs to
Boost Conservation and Awareness:
The National Medicinal Plants
Board under the Ministry of Ayush signed two strategic memorandum of understanding to further boost the
conservation efforts and create public awareness about medicinal Plants.The
MoUs are related to conserving germplasm of rare, endangered and threatened
medicinal plants through tissue culture methods and the establishment of
medicinal plants garden in the premises of All India Institute of Medical
Sciences in New Delhi.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. IndusInd Bank Appoints Rajiv Anand as CEO for
Three-Year Term: IndusInd Bank has approved the appointment
of Rajiv Anand as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a tenure of three
years, starting from August 25, 2025, to August 24, 2028, as per a
regulatory filing with stock exchanges.A seasoned banking veteran, Rajiv Anand
brings extensive leadership experience to the role, and his appointment marks a
significant transition in the bank’s top management.
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