🇮🇳 National News
On July 2, 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) revised its toll structure for national highways.
The updated policy reduces toll rates by up to 50% on sections that include tunnels, bridges, flyovers, and elevated corridors.
The new calculation formula considers the lower value between two metrics for toll determination.
The revision aims to reduce travel costs and encourage greater use of highways with major structural features, benefiting the public and improving infrastructure efficiency.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on July 5, 2025, that Puri will soon be declared the sixth municipal corporation in Odisha.
The announcement came just before the Bahuda Yatra, a significant religious event.
Key Developments:
- Additional areas around Puri city will be incorporated
- Plans for a Jagannath Museum, Library, and Research Centre to preserve Odia culture
- Enhanced civic services for millions of pilgrims and tourists annually
This development aligns with Odisha’s vision to make Puri a premier tourist and spiritual hub by 2036.
Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia, from Meerut, has become the first female officer in the Indian Navy to train as a fighter pilot.
She received the “Wings of Gold” during a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on July 3, 2025.
Training Details: Poonia will now undergo training to operate MiG-29K and Rafale M jets from aircraft carriers like INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
This milestone emphasizes the Navy’s commitment to gender equality and expanding women’s roles in combat aviation.
S.R.N. Mehta CBSE School, located in Kalaburagi, secured the first prize in the NASA-NSS Space Settlement Design Contest 2025.
The winning project, IRA, was designed by 11 students and presented at the ISDC-2025 in Orlando, USA.
Students also visited the NASA Kennedy Space Center before returning to India on June 30, 2025.
This achievement is a significant milestone for the school, the city of Kalaburagi, and the country.
Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh clinched the rapid title at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz 2025 tournament held in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 4, 2025.
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D. Gukesh (India) | 14 |
| 2 | Jan-Krzysztof Duda | 11 |
| 3 | Magnus Carlsen | 10 |
The blitz rounds begin on July 5, and the overall champion will be decided based on combined scores from both formats.
💼 Business & Economy
On June 30, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) instructed all banks—including NBFCs and UPI platforms—to adopt the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
How FRI Works: The system identifies fraud-prone mobile numbers by analyzing data from sources like NCRP, Chakshu, and banking reports.
Early Adopters: HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, PhonePe, and Paytm have already implemented the system.
Strengthen cybersecurity, provide real-time fraud detection, and curb digital financial crimes.
In FY25, India contributed $297 billion to global GDP growth, accounting for 6.7% of the world’s economic expansion, as per SBI Research.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| India’s Contribution to Global GDP Growth | $297 billion (6.7%) |
| SBI’s Contribution to Global Growth | $44 billion (1.1%) |
| SBI’s Share of India’s Contribution | 16% |
| SBI’s Value Addition to Financial Services | ₹1.38 lakh crore |
These figures underscore India’s rising global economic influence and the critical role of its major banks.
Mashreq Bank, a leading UAE financial institution, received IFSCA’s in-principle approval to establish an International Banking Unit (IBU) in GIFT City, Gujarat.
This marks the first UAE-based bank entry into India’s international financial hub.
Services to be offered (expected by Q4 2025):
- Foreign currency loans
- Trade finance
- Risk management services
Supported by the UAE Central Bank and Indian authorities, this move will strengthen UAE–India financial relations and bolster India’s position as a global financial hub.
On July 4, 2025, Microsoft announced the closure of its Pakistan office as part of a global restructuring plan.
Key Details:
- Decision follows 9,100 global job cuts
- Strategic shift toward a cloud-centric business model
- Microsoft will now rely more on local partners for operations in Pakistan
Industry experts criticized the move as a negative signal for Pakistan’s economy, attributing it to instability and missed opportunities, with competitors like Vietnam gaining ground.
🌐 International News
On July 2, 2025, the European Union (EU) introduced its climate strategy for 2040, aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90%.
Key Points:
- Aligns with the EU’s long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050
- Allows use of international carbon credits (up to 3%) starting in 2036
- Climate activists expressed concerns about potential dilution of impact
Timeline: Discussions in July, vote in September, finalization before COP30 in Brazil.
EU leaders Wopke Hoekstra and Ursula von der Leyen defended the plan as both ambitious and practical.
On July 4, 2025, during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Port of Spain, India and Trinidad & Tobago signed six agreements.
Areas of Collaboration:
- Culture
- Pharmaceuticals
- Sports
- Infrastructure development
PM Modi met PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar and President Christine Carla Kangaloo during the visit.
He also announced OCI cards for sixth-generation Indian-origin individuals.
This visit signifies a major step in strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on global platforms.
On July 4, 2025, PM Narendra Modi was awarded the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country’s highest civilian award.
Recognition for:
- Leadership on global issues
- Support during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Efforts to connect with the Indian diaspora
During this foreign tour, PM Modi also received the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana.
These awards reflect India’s growing diplomatic influence and strong ties with partner nations.
🔬 Science & Technology
Ananth Technologies, a Hyderabad-based firm, will roll out India’s first privately-operated satellite broadband service by 2028.
Key Details:
- Secured approval from IN-SPACe, India’s space regulatory authority
- Launching a satellite into geostationary orbit (35,000 km above Earth)
- Estimated investment: ₹3,000 crore
Objectives: Extend broadband access to remote regions and compete with global giants like Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon Kuiper.
This development marks a significant shift in India’s space and telecom sectors, boosting private participation and connectivity.
📅 Important Days
Celebrated on July 5, 2025, the International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay) coincides with the UN’s International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025).
Theme 2025: “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World”
The focus is on how cooperative models improve sectors like healthcare, agriculture, energy, and finance.
| Global Cooperative Statistics | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Cooperatives Worldwide | Over 3 million |
| Population Served | 12% of world’s population |
| Jobs Supported | 280 million |
In India, major cooperatives such as AMUL and IFFCO continue to empower communities and promote people-centric growth.
🕊️ Obituaries
Julian McMahon, the Australian actor best known for roles in ‘Fantastic Four,’ ‘Nip/Tuck,’ and ‘Charmed,’ died at 56 in Florida after a long battle with cancer.
His passing was confirmed on July 5, 2025, by his wife, Kelly McMahon.
Career Highlights:
- Career began as a model
- Rose to fame as a TV and film star
- Final works: Netflix series ‘The Residence’ and a film at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival
Julian McMahon was the son of former Australian Prime Minister Billy McMahon.
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