♦ The Central Government has nominated Anuradha Thakur, Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, as a Director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 25 July 2025.
♦ He replaced Ajay Seth, who was appointed as the new Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
♦ Anuradha Thakur is a 1994-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre and current Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).
Posted Date: July 25, 2025National
♦ India has emerged as the world’s fifth-biggest aviation market, handling 211 million passengers, while Mumbai-Delhi was one of the busiest airport pairs in 2024.
♦ This was stated by the International Airport Transport Association (IATA), which has released the latest edition of the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) for 2024.
♦ According to IATA, India saw 211 million air passengers last year (2024), a growth of 11.1 percent compared to 2023, ahead of Japan, which handled 205 million passengers with an annual rise of 18.6 percent.
♦ The US remains the world’s biggest aviation market with 876 million passengers in 2024 on the strength of its domestic market, growing 5.2 percent year-on-year.
♦ China was the second-biggest passenger market, with 741 million passengers, a growth of 18.7 percent compared to 2023.
♦ While the UK was at the 3rd spot with 261 million passengers, Spain stood at the 4th position with 241 million.
♦ Among the top 10 airport pairs, Mumbai-Delhi was the 7th busiest, carrying 5.9 million passengers in 2024.
♦ Asia Pacific dominated the ranking for the world’s busiest airport pairs, with Jeju-Seoul the most popular route globally, with 13.2 million passengers flying between the two airports in 2024.
Posted Date: August 5, 2025♦ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 31 July 2025 approved four key railway multitracking projects worth approximately Rs.11,169 crore.
♦ These projects, spanning six states and 13 districts, are expected to expand Indian Railways’ network by 574 kilometres and are scheduled for completion by 2028-29.
♦ The projects span 13 districts across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand, and will add around 574 kilometres to the existing railway network.
♦ The approved corridors include the fourth line between Itarsi and Nagpur, doubling of the Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)-Parbhani section, and the third and fourth lines on the Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri and Dangoaposi-Jaroli routes.
♦ The proposed upgrades will benefit approximately 2,309 villages with a population of about 43.6 lakh and generate an estimated 2.29 crore person-days of direct employment during the construction phase.
♦ These multitracking works are aligned with the government’s PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, focusing on multi-modal connectivity through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations.
♦ The enhanced line capacity is expected to alleviate congestion, increase operational efficiency, and provide more reliable services for both freight and passenger trains.
♦ The Cabinet Committee also approved a Central Sector Scheme titled “Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)” with a total outlay of Rs.2,000 crore.
♦ The scheme will be implemented over a four-year period from 2025-26 to 2028-29, with an annual budgetary allocation of Rs.500 crore.
Posted Date: July 31, 2025♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the historic 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' initiative for the digitisation of ancient manuscripts.
♦ The mission is a nationwide digital preservation project that aims to conserve and digitise over one crore ancient manuscripts scattered across India.
♦ Referred to by PM Modi as the “Chapters of India’s soul”, these manuscripts hold invaluable insights into the country’s civilisational, cultural, and spiritual heritage.
Posted Date: July 28, 2025♦ The 14th edition of the India-Singapore Joint Military Exercise named 'Exercise Bold Kurukshetra' commenced on 28 July 2025 in Jodhpur.
♦ It will continue till 4th August 2025.
♦ The exercise underscores the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations and represents a crucial step in preparing both armies for contemporary battlefield challenges.
♦ The objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and joint training capabilities of both armies under a United Nations mandate, thereby strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
♦ The exercise witnessed the participation of the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment of the 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade and the Indian Army’s Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
♦ Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 will further consolidate the strong defence ties between India and Singapore and foster greater mutual understanding and collaboration at both tactical and strategic levels.
Posted Date: July 28, 2025♦ The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), led by senior Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant launched the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025.
♦ This is a first-of-its-kind nationwide scheme aimed at providing free legal assistance to soldiers, veterans and their families.
♦ The yojana was launched in collaboration with the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority during the North Zone Regional Conference on “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals” at SKICC.
Posted Date: July 27, 2025♦ The Department of Hospital Administration at Army Hospital Research & Referral (AHRR), New Delhi, successfully organised the first-ever Armed Forces National Conference, SHAPE 2025: Sustainable Hospital Architecture, Planning, Infrastructure and Equipment, on July 26-27, 2025.
♦ SHAPE 2025 brought together stakeholders from military, civil, and private sectors to forge a unified vision for future-ready healthcare facilities.
♦ The pioneering Continuing Medical Education (CME) event was inaugurated by Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin and Director, AIIMS (New Delhi) Dr M. Srinivas, along with several dignitaries.
Posted Date: July 27, 2025♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the world’s most popular democratic leader with a 75 percent approval rating, according to a recent global survey conducted by US-based data analytics firm Morning Consult.
♦ The survey, which reflects public sentiment collected between July 4 and 10, 2025, shows PM Modi well ahead of his global counterparts.
♦ South Korean President Lee Jae-myung followed with a 59% approval rating.
♦ Argentine President Javier Milei secured the third spot with 57%.
♦ Here's a look at the top 10 names from the survey:
Narendra Modi (India): 75% approval, 7% no opinion, 18% disapproval
Lee Jae-myung (South Korea): 59% approval, 13% no opinion, 29% disapproval
Javier Milei (Argentina): 57% approval, 6% no opinion, 37% disapproval
Mark Carney (Canada): 56% approval, 13% no opinion, 31% disapproval
Anthony Albanese (Australia): 54% approval, 11% no opinion, 35% disapproval
Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico): 53% approval, 7% no opinion, 40% disapproval
Karin Keller-Sutter (Switzerland): 48% approval, 24% no opinion, 28% disapproval
Donald Trump (United States): 44% approval, 6% no opinion, 50% disapproval
Donald Tusk (Poland): 41% approval, 11% no opinion, 49% disapproval
Giorgia Meloni (Italy): 40% approval, 6% no opinion, 54% disapproval
Posted Date: July 26, 2025♦ Former Union Minister for Civil Aviation and veteran politician Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju was sworn in as the 22nd Governor of Goa on 26 July 26, 2025.
♦ He succeeded P. S. Sreedharan Pillai.
♦ The swearing-in ceremony was held in Raj Bhavan in Dona Paula, Goa.
♦ Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Alok Aradhe, administered the oath of office to the new Governor.
Posted Date: July 26, 2025♦ Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh said, India possesses an estimated 8.52 million tonnes of rare earth element (REE) reserves.
♦ He stated that approximately 7.23 million tonnes of Rare Earth Oxide (REO) are found within 13.15 million tonnes of monazite — a mineral rich in thorium and rare earths — occurring in coastal beach sands, inland alluvium, and red sand deposits across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
♦ An additional 1.29 million tonnes of REEs are located in hard rock formations in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the minister noted.
♦ Additionally, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has augmented 482.6 MT resources of rare earth elements (REE) ore at various cut-off grades in 34 exploration projects, the minister informed.
♦ The quantum of rare earth minerals exported during the last 10 years is 18 tonnes, while there have been no imports of rare earth minerals.
Posted Date: July 23, 2025♦ On 23 July 2025, the Union government informed Parliament that more than 2.22 crore Scheduled Caste students have received scholarships over the past five years under two key central schemes aimed at promoting higher education among disadvantaged communities.
♦ Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said that 2,22,31,139 SC students benefitted from the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) Scheme, while 20,340 others received assistance under the Top-Class Education Scheme.
♦ He noted that beneficiaries have enrolled in premier institutions across the country, including Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), National Institute of Technology (NITs), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NIDs), Institute of Hotel Management (IHMs) and National Law University (NLUs).
Posted Date: July 23, 2025♦ Export of mobile phones from India increased by 127 times from Rs.1,500 crore in 2014-15 to Rs.2 lakh crore in 2024-25.
♦ The data was shared by Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada in a written reply to Lok Sabha on 23 July 2025.
♦ The minister said that 75 percent of the total mobile phone demand in the country was met through imports in 2014-15, which has now dropped to 0.02 percent in 2024-25.
♦ India is now the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world, a shift made possible by the PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (LSEM), which has successfully transformed India from a net importer to a net exporter of mobile phones.
♦ The production of electronics goods in India increased from Rs.1.9 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs.11.3 lakh crore in 2024-25.
♦ Electronics exports also rose eightfold, from Rs.38,000 crore to Rs.3.27 lakh crore.
♦ The PLI Scheme for LSEM has attracted a cumulative investment of Rs.12,390 crore, leading to total production worth Rs.8,44,752 crore and exports valued at Rs.4,65,809 crore as of June 2025.
♦ This has generated over 1.3 lakh direct jobs in the sector.
Posted Date: July 23, 2025♦ India ranked 77th on the Henley Passport Index 2025. Indian passport holders can now travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access to 59 destinations.
♦ Among the 59 destinations open to Indian travellers are Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand, which offer visa-free entry.
♦ Countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Macau offer visa-on-arrival facilities.
♦ Singapore retains the top spot, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations.
♦ Japan and South Korea follow closely with access to 190 countries.
♦ Seven European nations — including France, Germany, and Italy — share third place, each with access to 189 destinations.
♦ New Zealand, Switzerland, and Greece rank fifth, while the UK and the US have dropped slightly, ranking sixth and tenth, respectively.
♦ Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa.
♦ The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Posted Date: July 22, 2025♦ More than 3.3 crore individuals have received skill training under various initiatives of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) over the past decade (2015-25), the government informed the Lok Sabha on 2025, July 21.
♦ Responding to a written query, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary said that over 1.6 crore candidates have been trained or oriented under PMKVY, of whom 1.29 crore have been certified as of June 30, 2025.
♦ Under other programmes supported by the NSDC, an additional 1.74 crore individuals have been trained.
♦ The minister also said that NSDC has facilitated the certification of over 2.32 lakh trainers through awarding bodies.
♦ The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana is implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through the NSDC.
♦ Though the government holds only 49 percent equity in NSDC, it maintains oversight through representation on the board.
♦ To ensure standardisation and transparency, the government has introduced several regulatory and technological measures, particularly under the PMKVY 4.0 framework, which is currently in force.
Posted Date: July 21, 2025♦ The Ministry of Tourism launched ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ (SASCI) scheme, aimed at transforming select tourist destinations into globally competitive attractions.
♦ Under the scheme, the Centre intends to provide funding support for comprehensive development of iconic sites, with a focus on enhancing the end-to-end tourist experience.
♦ This includes strengthening the entire tourism value chain—from infrastructure to branding, sustainability, and operations.
♦ While the government will provide financial support for the projects until March 31, 2026, the implementation and management of the sanctioned projects will rest with the respective State Governments.
♦ Each project is expected to be completed within a two-year period.
Posted Date: July 21, 2025♦ The government of India has initiated the formulation of the Automotive Mission Plan 2047 (AMP 2047), a strategic roadmap aligned with the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ vision.
♦ The plan aims to establish India as a global leader in the automotive sector, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and increasing the country’s share in global automotive trade, the ministry of heavy industries.
♦ Seven sub-committees, comprising experts from the government, industry, and academia, have been formed to guide the development of AMP 2047.
♦ The committees have held their first meeting to define the plan’s objectives, framework, and specific targets for sectoral growth, exports, and industry advancement.
♦ The plan sets milestones for 2030, 2037, and 2047, with a focus on addressing challenges such as technological advancements, electric mobility, and charging infrastructure.
Posted Date: July 20, 2025♦ Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the National Standards for Civil Service Training Institutes 2.0 (NSCSTI 2.0) at the Civil Services Officers Institute (CSOI) in Delhi.
♦ Developed by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), this revamped framework marks a significant step toward building a future-ready civil service.
♦ The NSCSTI 2.0 framework introduces a streamlined and inclusive approach to civil services training.
♦ It reduces evaluation metrics from 59 to 43 for greater clarity and outcome-focused assessments.
♦ Developed through consultations with over 160 Civil Service Training Institutes (CSTIs), assessors, and domain experts, the framework addresses real-world training challenges.
♦ It is adaptable for training institutes at all government levels, including Central, State, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
Posted Date: July 19, 2025♦ Gujarat has become the first Indian State to launch a genome sequencing initiative focused exclusively on tribal communities.
♦ The project, titled “Creation of Reference Genome Database for Tribal Population in Gujarat”, will be implemented by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC).
♦ It will involve genome sequencing of 2,000 individuals from various tribal communities residing in 17 districts of the state.
♦ The genetic data collected will also be used to identify markers related to natural immunity and support the development of personalised healthcare solutions.
♦ The project will incorporate advanced infrastructure for sample collection, sequencing, and interpretation of genetic data.
Posted Date: July 18, 2025♦ According to the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2026, Delhi was named the most affordable student city in the world.
♦ While Mumbai has made a comeback into the top 100 student cities globally, Bengaluru and Chennai have also improved their rankings overall.
♦ Mumbai emerged as the highest-ranked Indian city at 98th place globally, marking a significant leap of 15 spots from last year.
♦ Delhi climbed seven places to 104th and secured the top spot in the affordability category, making it the cheapest student city globally in 2026.
♦ Bengaluru, known for its technology and research ecosystem, jumped 22 places to 108th rank. Chennai also improved, rising 12 spots to settle at the 128th position.
♦ Globally, Seoul has claimed the top spot, displacing London.
♦ The top five cities in the 2026 edition are:
1. Seoul, South Korea, 2. Tokyo, Japan, 3. London, United Kingdom, 4. Munich, Germany, 5. Melbourne, Australia.
♦ Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated India's first water technology park named 'Aqua Tech Park' established through collaborative efforts at Bagibari Sonapur.
♦ The 'Aqua Tech Park' set up by Kolong-Kapili in association with NABARD, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Fishery Department and Selco Foundation, the Aqua
♦ Tech Park the first of its kind in Assam.
♦ Showcases advanced technologies in aquaponics, biofloc system, modern fish production, ornamental fish breeding and other innovative areas.
Posted Date: July 16, 2025♦ The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the “Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana” for a period of six years, beginning with 2025-26 to cover 100 districts.
♦ Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana draws inspiration from NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District Programme and first of its kind focusing exclusively on agriculture and allied sectors.
♦ The Scheme aims to enhance agricultural productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, augment post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities and facilitate availability of long-term and short-term credit.
♦ The Scheme will be implemented through convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 Departments, other State schemes and local partnerships with the private sector.
♦ 100 districts will be identified based on three key indicators of low productivity, low cropping intensity, and less credit disbursement.
♦ The number of districts in each state/UT will be based on the share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings.
♦ However, a minimum of 1 district will be selected from each state.
Posted Date: July 16, 2025♦ The Central government cleared the Transfers and appointments of Chief Justices and judges of several High Courts across country on 14 July 2025.
♦ As per the notification, Chief Justice of Madras High Court, KR. Shriram has been transferred to the Rajasthan High Court, while Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice, Manindra Mohan Shrivastava will now be the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.
♦ Also, the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, M.S. Ramachandra Rao, has been made the Chief Justice of Tripura High Court, and the Tripura High Court Chief Justice, Aparesh Kumar Singh, will now be the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
♦ As for new appointments, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, while Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan will now head the Jharkhand High Court.
♦ Justice Vibhu Bakhru has been named the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, Justice Ashutosh Kumar as the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
♦ Meanwhile, the government also transferred Justice Anil Kshetarpal from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the Delhi High Court, while Justice Suman Shyam has been moved from the Gauhati High Court to the Bombay High Court.
♦ Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was transferred from Allahabad High Court to Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Om Prakash Shukla will move from Allahabad High Court to Delhi High Court, and Justice Jayant Banerji moves from Allahabad High Court to Karnataka High Court.
♦ Justice Sudhir Singh has been brought back to his parent Patna High Court from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
♦ Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has been sent to his parent Rajasthan High Court, from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
♦ Justice Sujoy Paul moves from the Telangana High Court to the Calcutta High Court, while Justice V. Kameswar Rao returns to the Delhi High Court from the Karnataka High Court.
♦ Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh is transferred to the Karnataka High Court from the Kerala High Court, Justice Vivek Kumar Singh is moved from the Madras High Court to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, and Justice Vivek Chaudhary moves from the Allahabad High Court to the Delhi High Court.
♦ Among the other transfers are Justice Battu Devanand, who is moving to the Andhra Pradesh High Court from Madras High Court and Justice Arun Monga, who is transferred from the Rajasthan High Court to the Delhi High Court.
♦ Justice Shree Chandrashekhar has been transferred from the Rajasthan High Court to the Bombay High Court, while Justice Lanusungkum Jamir has been sent to the Calcutta High Court from the Gauhati High Court.
Posted Date: July 14, 2025♦ The Indian Army has launched Operation SHIVA 2025 to ensure the safe and smooth conduct of the Shri Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.
♦ They has deployed over 8,500 soldiers armed with sophisticated weapons and supported by a wide array of technological and operational resources to ensure smooth and hassle-free Amarnath pilgrimage.
♦ The ongoing pilgrimage will concluded on August 9 on the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
♦ The army has been working in close coordination with the civil administration and central armed police forces (CAPFs) to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the Amarnath Yatra, said defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, adding that as part of this year’s enhanced security framework, over 8,500 troops have been deployed, supported by a wide array of technological and operational resources.
Posted Date: July 13, 2025♦ The Arthunkal police station in Alappuzha become the first police station in India to receive the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001:2015 certification.
♦ The station received the certification for quality management system.
♦ It was through a two stage audit that this recognition was given and it included a quality and risk management standards were established and then verified.
♦ The efficiency in law and order management, crime investigation, implementation of modern practices in disposal of complaints, basic amenities in police stations, and conduct of police officers were among the other yardsticks ♦ considered for awarding the certification.
Posted Date: July 18, 2025♦ Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy launched a scheme to incentivise electric trucks (e-trucks) under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme on 11 July 2025.
♦ This is the first time that the government has launched support for electric trucks to help the country’s transition to clean and sustainable freight mobility.
♦ The scheme aims to support the deployment of around 5 thousand 6 hundred e-trucks, promoting indigenous manufacturing and reducing logistics costs and carbon footprint.
♦ To ensure the reliability of electric trucks, the manufacturers will provide a comprehensive manufacturer-backed warranty.
♦ This will include a five-year or five-hundred-thousand-kilometre warranty for the battery.
Posted Date: July 11, 2025♦ India’s fish production has more than doubled in 11 years (2014-25)—from 95.79 lakh tonnes to 195 lakh tonnes, reflecting the success of the country’s ‘blue revolution’ launched by the Centre.
♦ Announcing this on National Fish Farmers Day in Bhubaneswar, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh highlighted a 140 percent growth in inland fisheries and aquaculture.
♦ He said, seafood exports surpassed Rs.60,500 crore, with India retaining its global lead in shrimp exports.
♦ The Minister also launched the Key initiatives including new Fisheries Clusters, ICAR Training Calendar, and seed certification guidelines.
Posted Date: July 10, 2025
♦ The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and BITS-Pilani have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch professional development programs in cybersecurity for professionals across government, public sector and industry.
♦ The Ministry has termed this initiative a significant step towards further strengthening the country’s cyber defense capabilities and building a skilled cyber security workforce.
♦ The collaboration aims to address the growing demand for structured, high-impact capacity building in cyber security in view of the evolving digital threats and cyber security challenges.
Posted Date: July 10, 2025♦ Indian Railways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) for the installation of Machine Vision Based Inspection System (MVIS) to boost train safety on 10 July 2025.
♦ MVIS is a modern, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-based technology solution that captures high-resolution images of the under-gear of moving trains and automatically detects any hanging, loose, or missing components.
♦ On detecting anomalies, the system generates real-time alerts to facilitate prompt response and preventive action.
♦ This revolutionary system marks a first for Indian Railways.
♦ The technology is expected to significantly enhance the safety of train operations, reduce manual inspection efforts and help avoid potential accidents and service disruptions.
Posted Date: July 10, 2025
♦ According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data, India’s internet subscriber base grew by 1.54% in the financial year 2024–25, rising from 954.40 million in March 2024 to 969.10 million in March 2025.
♦ The growth was primarily driven by an increase in broadband subscribers, which rose from 924.07 million to 944.12 million, marking a 2.17% year-on-year gain.
♦ In contrast, narrowband subscriptions declined by 17.66%, falling from 30.34 million to 24.98 million during the same period.
♦ The report, titled Indian Telecom Services – Yearly Performance Indicators, also noted a 16.89% increase in mobile Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), which climbed from Rs.149.25 to Rs.174.46.
♦ While prepaid ARPU saw a notable rise, postpaid ARPU recorded a slight decline.
♦ Total wireless data usage jumped 17.46% to 2,28,779 Petabytes (PB), and data revenue grew 15.49% to Rs.2.15 lakh crore.
♦ The number of wireless data users also rose to 939.51 million.
♦ There were 388 operational private FM radio stations across 113 cities, operated by 33 broadcasters after a recent merger.
♦ Community Radio Stations also saw growth, increasing from 494 to 531.
Posted Date: July 9, 2025♦ Information and Broadcasting Ministry, through its WaveX Startup Accelerator Platform has launched the Kalaa Setu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat’ Challenge.
♦ This nationwide initiative invites India’s leading AI startups to develop indigenous, scalable solutions for the automated generation of audio, video, and graphic content from textual inputs, with support for multiple Indian languages.
♦ The challenge focuses on scalable solutions that support three core areas of AI-driven content generation.
♦ First, text-to-video generation. Second, text-to-graphics generation and another, text-to-audio generation.
♦ WaveX is the dedicated startup accelerator platform launched under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s WAVES initiative, aimed at nurturing innovation in the media, entertainment, and language technology sectors.
Posted Date: July 8, 2025♦ India launched the first phase of the BIMSTEC cancer care capacity-building program, an initiative aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against cancer among BIMSTEC nations.
♦ The programme, jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), was inaugurated at the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai.
♦ The capacity-building initiative forms part of the 21-point Action Plan for BIMSTEC cooperation announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok.
♦ Dr A.K. Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, formally launched the first phase of the program.
♦ A total of 21 participants from BIMSTEC member countries will undergo a comprehensive four-week training in Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiology.
Posted Date: July 8, 2025♦ Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Vice President of CSIR, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the state-of-the-art Phenome India "National Biobank" at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in New Delhi on 7 July 2025.
♦ The newly launched facility marks a significant stride towards building India’s own longitudinal health database and enabling personalised treatment regimens in future.
♦ The Biobank will serve as the backbone of a nationwide cohort study, collecting comprehensive genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 individuals across India.
♦ Drawing inspiration from the UK Biobank model, the Indian version is tailored to capture the country’s unique diversity—across geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Posted Date: July 7, 2025♦ According to the World Bank report, India was ranked fourth in the world for income equality.
♦ India scored 25.5 on the Gini Index, just behind the Slovak Republic (24.1), Slovenia (24.3), and Belarus (24.4).
♦ This makes India one of the most equal societies globally — a significant achievement for such a large and diverse country.
♦ The Gini Index measures the distribution of income, wealth, or consumption across a population.
♦ A score of 0 represents perfect equality, while 100 reflects absolute inequality — where one individual holds all the resources.
♦ A lower score signifies a more equitable society. With a Gini score of 25.5, India falls into the “moderately low” inequality bracket (25–30) and is on the threshold of joining the “low inequality” group.
♦ India’s Gini Index not only places it ahead of China (35.7) and the United States (41.8), but also makes it more equal than every G7 and G20 country.
♦ The list of “moderately low” inequality countries includes European nations like Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Belgium, as well as the UAE and Poland. In total, only 30 countries fall into this category globally.
♦ India’s current score marks a notable improvement from 28.8 in 2011, indicating a steady trend toward more equitable distribution of resources over the past decade.
Posted Date: July 5, 2025♦ Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), one of India’s largest steel producers, has inaugurated its Representative Office in Dubai.
♦ Steel and Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy inaugurated SAIL’s first international office in West Asia, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.
♦ It also marks a significant milestone in SAIL’s evolution into a globally competitive steelmaker and reflects India’s growing profile in the international steel arena.
Posted Date: July 4, 2025♦ President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the trophies of Durand Cup Tournament 2025 at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on 4 July 2025.
♦ The 2025 edition of the Durand Cup will be held from July 23 to August 23 across six venues in West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand.
♦ Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the tournament features matchups between Services teams and some of India’s top football clubs.
♦ In recent editions, the Durand Cup has also witnessed international participation, with Army teams from neighbouring countries joining the competition.
Posted Date: July 4, 2025♦ India has set up its first Equine Disease-Free Compartment (EDFC) at the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre & College in Meerut Cantonment, Uttar Pradesh on 4 July 2025.
♦ The facility was officially recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), marking a crucial step in enabling Indian sport horses to compete internationally in compliance with global biosecurity standards.
♦ The EDFC, developed through the coordinated efforts of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Defence, the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, ensures strict adherence to WOAH’s guidelines for compartmentalisation.
♦ These include robust biosecurity measures, veterinary surveillance, and disease exclusion protocols.
♦ The facility has been certified free from major equine diseases such as Equine Infectious Anemia, Equine Influenza, Equine Piroplasmosis, Glanders, and Surra. Additionally, India has remained free of African Horse Sickness since 2014.
Posted Date: July 4, 2025♦ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Kesavan Ramachandran as Executive Director (ED).
♦ He was promoted to the ED position at RBI from his current position as the Principal Chief General Manager in the Risk Monitoring Department.
♦ Prior to being promoted as ED, Kesavan was serving as Principal Chief General Manager in Risk Monitoring Department.
♦ He also served as Principal of the Reserve Bank Staff College during his career.
♦ He served as, RBI’s nominee on the Board of Canara Bank for over five years and on the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board of ICAI for two years.
Posted Date: July 2, 2025♦ The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) was officially renamed as the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development.
♦ The move reflects a renewed focus on region-specific, mission-driven support for the development of women and children across the country.
♦ Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, announced the renaming, describing it as a reaffirmation of the Ministry’s commitment to women and child-centric development across the country.
♦ Headquartered in New Delhi, the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development currently has regional centres in Bangalore, Guwahati, Lucknow, Indore, and Mohali.
♦ The Institute serves as the apex body for training, research, documentation, and capacity building in the field of women and child development.
Posted Date: July 3, 2025♦ Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the first-ever ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue in Chennai, marking a significant milestone in maritime cooperation between India and Southeast Asian nations.
♦ Held aboard the MV Empress at Chennai Port, the dialogue brought together over 30 delegates from all ten ASEAN countries, along with Timor Leste, to explore ways to enhance cruise connectivity, promote sustainable tourism, and strengthen cultural and economic ties across the Indo-Pacific region.
Posted Date: July 1, 2025♦ Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the ‘RailOne’ app at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on 1 July 2025.
♦ He inaugurated the app at the 40th Foundation Day celebrations of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). Designed to be a comprehensive, all-in-one platform, the RailOne app aims to streamline and simplify access to a range of railway passenger services through a user-friendly interface.
Posted Date: July 1, 2025♦ The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025 on July 1.
♦ The policy replaces the National Sports Policy of 2001 and sets a comprehensive roadmap to establish India as a leading sporting nation, with a particular focus on preparing for the 2036 Olympic Games.
♦ The policy aims to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem from grassroots to elite levels, focusing on early talent identification, building competitive leagues, expanding infrastructure in rural and urban areas, and enhancing training, coaching, and athlete support systems.
♦ It also seeks to modernize governance within National Sports Federations and promote the use of sports science, medicine, and technology to boost performance.
Posted Date: July 1, 2025