📊 Index & Rankings
The Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2025 reveals significant growth in the global startup ecosystem with 1,523 unicorns across 52 countries and 307 cities, with a combined valuation of $5.6 trillion.
Since 2019, there has been a 120% increase in countries hosting unicorns and a 160% rise in cities with unicorn headquarters.
| Rank | Country | Unicorns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 758 |
| 2 | China | 343 |
| 3 | India | 64 |
Other countries in the top 10 include UK, Germany, France, Canada, Israel, South Korea, and Singapore. Key unicorn hubs are San Francisco, Beijing, and Bengaluru.
India ranks 3rd globally with 64 unicorns, with Bengaluru serving as the country’s primary unicorn hub.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2025 reveals that no SDG is fully on track for the 2030 target, with only 17% of targets progressing as planned.
Areas of Improvement: Basic services, infrastructure, and healthcare.
Areas of Concern: Press freedom, corruption, nutrition, and environmental sustainability have witnessed setbacks.
| Category | Countries |
|---|---|
| Top Performers | Finland, Sweden, Denmark |
| Worst Performers | South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad |
The SDG Index is published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Nordic countries consistently lead in SDG performance.
🇮🇳 National News
On July 2, 2025, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the RailOne mobile application as a consolidated digital platform for Indian Railways.
The app integrates multiple services including:
- Ticket booking
- PNR enquiry
- Meal ordering
- Freight-related queries
Key Features: Single sign-on, Biometric authentication, and R-Wallet integration.
The initiative aims to enhance passenger convenience, minimize reliance on multiple apps, and support the Digital India mission with a modern, user-friendly interface.
The Union Cabinet sanctioned a project worth ₹1,853 crore to upgrade the Paramakudi–Ramanathapuram road in Tamil Nadu.
Project Highlights:
- Conversion of 46.7 km of NH-87 into a four-lane corridor
- Executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)
Expected Benefits:
- Smoother connectivity to major towns and pilgrimage destinations like Rameshwaram
- Reduced congestion and improved road safety
- Generation of 18 lakh person-days of employment
- Promotion of tourism and regional economic growth
The Bihar Cabinet, led by CM Nitish Kumar, approved major initiatives for youth and cultural development.
Key Schemes Announced:
- Mukhya Mantri Pratigya Yojana – Provides internship stipends up to ₹6,000 per month
- Kalakar Pension Yojana – Offers ₹3,000 monthly pension to senior artists
- Temple Development – ₹882.87 crore allocated for the Punaura Dham temple in Sitamarhi
Additional Reforms: Amendments to Bihar Factory Rules to allow women’s participation in hazardous industries.
The initiatives aim to boost employment opportunities, preserve cultural heritage, and promote religious tourism ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Jan Suraksha Santrupti Abhiyan campaign to extend coverage of key welfare schemes.
Schemes Covered: PMJJBY, PMSBY, APY, and Jan Dhan Yojana.
Campaign Duration: July 1 – September 30, 2025
Key Targets:
- Achieve 100% coverage of eligible beneficiaries
- Focus on KYC updates
- Awareness on digital fraud prevention
- Promoting financial inclusion
Gujarat already has 1.93 crore Jan Dhan accounts with over ₹21,000 crore in deposits. This initiative strengthens equity in public welfare delivery.
India commissioned INS Udaygiri on July 1, 2025 under Project 17A.
Key Features:
- Advanced stealth design
- Indigenous weapons systems
- Multi-role operational capability for blue-water missions
The ship was built in a record 37 months, involving contributions from over 200 MSMEs.
INS Udaygiri boosts India’s naval strength and self-reliance in defense manufacturing, aligning with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
India commissioned INS Tamal, a stealth guided missile frigate, in Kaliningrad, Russia.
Built under Project 1135.6, the ship is equipped with:
- BrahMos missiles
- HUMSA-NG sonar system
INS Tamal marks the last foreign-built major warship for India. All future warships will be 100% indigenous, advancing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
The frigate reinforces the Indo-Russian defense partnership and will strengthen the Western Fleet.
The Union Cabinet sanctioned the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme on July 1, 2025.
Key Details:
- Aim: Generate 3.5 crore jobs in 2 years
- Outlay: ₹99,446 crore
- First-time employees: ₹15,000 incentive
- Employers: ₹3,000/month subsidy (primarily in manufacturing)
Benefits will be disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and PAN-linked accounts.
The ELI Scheme is part of India’s employment reform agenda to strengthen employability and social security for the workforce.
The Union Cabinet approved a major Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Scheme on July 1, 2025 to promote private-sector R&D.
Key Features:
- Fund Allocation: ₹1 lakh crore
- Concessional loans for high-TRL (Technology Readiness Level) projects
- Managed by Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
- Includes a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds
The scheme aims to propel India toward global competitiveness in research and strategic self-reliance in emerging technologies.
The Union Cabinet approved the National Sports Policy on July 1, 2025 with the vision to transform India into a sports powerhouse.
Focus Areas:
- Athlete-centric programs
- Mass participation initiatives
- Sports tourism development
- Transparent governance
The policy integrates education with sports, encourages corporate involvement, and aims to boost sports goods manufacturing in India.
💼 Business & Economy
UPI transactions in June 2025 showed a slight dip compared to the previous month:
- Total Transactions: 18.40 billion
- Total Value: ₹24.04 lakh crore
Reasons for Decline: Seasonal variations and UPI reaching a mature scale.
Despite the monthly dip, year-on-year growth remains strong with 613 million daily transactions, making UPI central to India’s digital economy.
UPI is expected to expand into new areas like IoT-based payments, embedded credit, and B2B transactions.
🌐 International News
India and the UAE signed a strategic cooperation agreement under the India-UAE CEPA framework focusing on production of green steel and high-grade aluminium.
Discussion led by:
- Indian Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy
- UAE Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri
Key Players from India: CPSEs including SAIL, NMDC, and MECON.
The partnership aims to promote sustainable manufacturing, secure resources, and boost trade in strategic sectors like automotive. A Joint Working Group will oversee implementation, aligning with India’s $5 trillion economy vision.
Pakistan assumed the UN Security Council Presidency for July 2025 as part of its non-permanent member tenure.
Leadership:
- Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad
- Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Agenda: Promote multilateralism, peaceful dispute resolution, and strengthen OIC collaboration.
The presidency coincides with Pakistan’s leadership of the Taliban Sanctions Committee and occurs amid global instability, reinforcing Pakistan’s diplomatic role on the world stage.
Progressive leader Zohran Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo by a 12-point margin in the ranked-choice vote to win the NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary.
Campaign Focus:
- Free public services
- Rent freeze policies
- Higher taxes on the wealthy
The victory highlights a shift toward progressive governance in New York City, appealing strongly to working-class voters.
👔 Appointments
Effective July 1, 2025, Kesavan Ramachandran has been appointed as Executive Director (ED) of the Reserve Bank of India.
Experience: Over 30 years in banking covering:
- Risk monitoring
- Currency management
- Banking supervision
New Role: He will head the Prudential Regulation Division under the Department of Regulation.
This appointment strengthens RBI’s regulatory and supervisory framework during evolving financial challenges.
📅 Important Days
World Sports Journalists Day is observed annually on July 2.
Theme 2025: “Championing Fair Play: Reporting with Integrity and Impact”
Significance: The day celebrates the role of sports journalists in:
- Promoting ethical reporting
- Supporting media freedom
- Inspiring global sports enthusiasm
🕊️ Obituaries
Renowned hypnotist, psychologist, and motivational speaker Dr. BV Pattabhiram passed away in Hyderabad due to cardiac arrest at the age of 75.
Contributions:
- Conducted mental wellness workshops worldwide
- Founded India’s first magic school
Achievements:
- Degrees in psychology and philosophy
- Received global recognition, honorary doctorate, and citizenship awards
His passing is considered a major loss to the field of mind sciences in India.
📤 Found this useful? Help your friends stay updated too!
