Your Ultimate Guide to Governance, Economy, Appointments &
More!
(Tailored
for aspirants of UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, and other competitive exams)
🇮🇳 National News
🏞️ India’s
First Digital Nomad Village Opens in Sikkim
💡 Akten village in Sikkim has made history as India’s first-ever digital
nomad village under the ‘Nomad Sikkim’ project.
·
Equipped with high-speed internet, power
backup, and locally-run homestays, it offers remote
workers a peaceful and productive environment.
·
The initiative aims to boost rural income, promote sustainable tourism, and integrate remote working into India's
growing digital economy.
·
It sets a benchmark for digitally inclusive rural
development.
🥔 Gujarat
Tops Processed Potato Production in India
🚜 Gujarat has emerged as India’s leading state in processed potato production.
·
Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli districts have
led the charge.
·
48.59 lakh tonnes of potatoes were
produced in 2024–25, with 25% used for processing.
·
Backed by government policies, high-yield varieties, and cold storage facilities, Gujarat is now eyeing global markets.
·
A glowing example of modern agriculture supporting rural economic growth.
🥗 Snack
Nutrition Awareness Campaign Launched
The Ministry of Health launched a campaign on snack nutrition at AIIMS Nagpur.
·
Visual posters beside food
stalls warn about sugar, fat, and trans fats in everyday
snacks like samosas and biscuits.
·
Encourages people to make healthier dietary choices and promotes moderation.
·
With predictions from The Lancet estimating 450 million obese Indians
by 2050, this is part of a larger initiative to combat lifestyle diseases.
·
Government offices are urged to serve healthy food and spread
awareness.
🚄 E5
Trains for Trial, E10 for Launch in Bullet Train Project
India is preparing to launch E10 (Alfa-X) bullet
trains, a first outside Japan, on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed
Rail (MAHSR) corridor.
·
Until then, two E5 trains will be used for trial runs in 2026.
·
The E10 Shinkansen, capable of speeds up
to 400 kmph, features state-of-the-art safety and comfort mechanisms.
·
The ₹1.1 lakh crore project has already completed:
·
310 km viaducts
·
15 bridges
·
5 stations
·
A major India-Japan collaboration, enhancing world-class rail
infrastructure.
🏛️ State
News
🧑🦽 75th
PM Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) Inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh
Union Minister Shri B.L. Verma inaugurated the 75th PMDK in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.
·
The center provides free assistive devices (wheelchairs,
hearing aids, tricycles) under the ADIP Scheme and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
(RVY).
·
Over 1.40 lakh people have benefitted
across the nation.
·
Reflects a strong commitment to
inclusive growth and last-mile service delivery.
🤖 India’s
First AI Campus by BITS Pilani in Andhra Pradesh
BITS Pilani announced its plan to open India’s first ‘AI Plus
Campus’ in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, with a budget of ₹1,000 crore.
·
Campus will focus on AI, Robotics, Data Science, and green energy.
·
Admissions start in 2027.
·
A blend of heritage architecture and modern innovation, supported by Project Vistar.
·
CM Chandrababu Naidu and Kumar Mangalam Birla hailed it as a game changer in education.
🌍 International
News
🤖 US
DoD Awards $200M AI Contracts to OpenAI, Google & Others
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $200 million to OpenAI, Google, Anthropic,
and xAI.
·
Focus: Building AI-powered military
software systems.
·
Supervised by the Chief Digital and AI Office
(CDAO).
·
Aims to ensure AI safety, efficiency, and combat-readiness.
·
Part of the White House initiative to boost the U.S. AI ecosystem.
🏦 Banking
& Finance News
💰 CTBC
Bank of Taiwan to Open Unit in GIFT City
CTBC Bank, Taiwan’s largest
private lender, will establish an IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT City, Gujarat.
·
Filed application for 3,100 sq. ft. office space.
·
Already present in New Delhi, this marks their expansion into Indian
financial hubs.
·
31 IBUs currently exist
in GIFT City, with banks from UAE and France also joining in.
📱 PhonePe
Tops UPI Market with 46.46% Share
PhonePe dominated the UPI space in June 2025, clocking 8.54 billion transactions.
·
Market Share:
·
PhonePe: 46.46%
·
Google Pay: 35.56%
·
Paytm: 6.90%
·
Emerging players like Navi and Super.money show steady growth.
·
Maharashtra, Karnataka, and UP are top UPI-using states.
🚘 ACKO
to Provide Insurance for Tesla in India
ACKO has been selected
as Tesla’s insurance partner in India.
·
Will offer digital-first,
tech-integrated vehicle insurance.
·
The deal supports green mobility, electric vehicles, and ease of ownership.
·
A significant step toward digital innovation in
insurance.
📊 Economic
Updates
🥦 Retail
Inflation Dips to 2.1% – Lowest Since 2018
India’s retail inflation dropped to 2.1% in June 2025, driven by falling vegetable and pulse prices.
·
Wholesale inflation also turned
negative.
·
RBI is expected to pause rate cuts for now.
·
Core inflation remains due to healthcare and gold costs.
💸 ₹4.77
Lakh Crore in Tax Refunds Issued in FY25
Tax refund efficiency has hit a new
high:
·
₹4.77 lakh crore refunded in FY25.
·
Refund time reduced from 93 days to 17 days.
·
Shows a tech-driven, transparent,
and responsive taxation system.
👥 Appointments
News
👔 R
Doraiswamy Appointed LIC MD & CEO
R Doraiswamy has been
appointed as MD & CEO of LIC until August 2028.
·
Has 38+ years of experience at LIC.
·
Succeeds Sat Pal Bhanoo.
·
Expected to enhance LIC’s market
performance and financial stability.
🏦 Raghavendra
S Bhat Appointed Interim CEO of Karnataka Bank
Raghavendra S Bhat took charge as interim CEO of Karnataka
Bank.
·
Serving from 16 July 2025 for 3 months or until a
successor is chosen.
·
Comes after the resignation of Srikrishnan H H Sarma.
·
A leadership search panel has been set up.
🧃 Hemant
Rupani to Lead Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages
Hemant Rupani will become CEO of HCCB from September 8, 2025, replacing Juan Pablo Rodriguez.
·
Previously worked at Mondelez, PepsiCo, Infosys,
Vodafone, Britannia.
·
His leadership is expected to strengthen Coca-Cola's
local operations post its deal with Jubilant Bhartia Group.
🤝 Agreements
News
⛅ NCDEX
& IMD Launch India’s First Weather Derivatives
NCDEX and IMD signed an MoU to
introduce weather-based futures contracts.
·
Contracts based on rainfall data.
·
Aimed at helping farmers, insurers, and climate-sensitive sectors.
·
Will also support training and research for climate risk mitigation.
🏅 Awards
News
⚖️ Justice
Kalyan Shrestha Wins Hem Bahadur Malla Award
Former Chief Justice Kalyan
Shrestha received the Hem Bahadur Malla Award
2080 in Kathmandu.
·
Recognised for judicial leadership, democracy promotion, and transitional justice.
·
Award includes ₹2 lakh and an honour certificate.
📚 Leila
Aboulela Wins PEN Pinter Prize 2025
Sudanese-Scottish author
Leila Aboulela won the PEN Pinter Prize for her works on faith, migration, and Muslim women’s voices.
·
Ceremony to be held on October 10, 2025, at British Library.
·
Known for novels like The Translator, Minaret, and River Spirit.
🛡️ Defense
News
🔥 Indian
Army Conducts ‘Prachand Shakti’ Demo in Meerut
The Army showcased AI, UAVs, and autonomous platforms in a demo called ‘Prachand Shakti’ in Meerut.
·
Part of the ‘Year of Tech Absorption’.
·
Aims to modernise combat
capabilities with homegrown technology.
🚢 India-Greece
PASSEX Naval Exercise Held in Arabian Sea
INS Tarkash and Greek ship HS Psara carried out PASSEX drills off Mumbai coast.
·
Involved tactical ops, live-fire
drills, and helicopter landings.
·
Strengthens India-Greece naval
partnership, post-2023 strategic alliance.
🏏 Sports
News
🏆 Markram
& Matthews Win ICC Players of the Month (June 2025)
·
Aiden Markram (SA): Scored 136 in WTC
Final vs. Australia.
·
Hayley Matthews (WI): 104 runs & 4
wickets (ODIs), 147 runs & 2 wickets (T20Is).
·
Matthews becomes 2nd-most decorated female
cricketer in ICC monthly awards.
🧠 Important
Days
🌍 World
Youth Skills Day 2025: Empowering Through AI & Digital Skills
Celebrated on July 15, this year’s theme is “Youth Empowerment Through
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Skills.”
·
Marks the 10th anniversary.
·
Highlights role of TVET in preparing
youth for a tech-driven job market.
·
Focus on NEET youth, especially young women in underserved
areas.
🕯️ Obituaries
🏃 World’s
Oldest Marathoner Fauja Singh Passes Away at 114
Legendary runner Fauja Singh passed away in a road accident on July 14, 2025, in Punjab.
·
Took up running at age 89 and became a
global inspiration.
·
Leaders and citizens paid tribute to his discipline, resilience, and positivity.
📚 Sources:
1. The Hindu –
National Affairs
2. PIB – Press
Information Bureau
3. The Indian Express –
Economy
5. Times of India –
Appointments
6. Down To Earth – Environment & Agriculture
7. NDTV – Technology
9. ICC – Official Cricket News
