🇮🇳 National News
The inaugural BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival is set to take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Named ‘SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody’, the event aims to celebrate musical unity and shared cultural heritage.
Participating BIMSTEC member nations:
- India
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
The Ministry of Mines has designated seven institutions—comprising four IITs and three R&D laboratories—as Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).
The recognition was granted by the Project Approval and Advisory Committee (PAAC), co-led by:
- Shri V.L. Kantha Rao – Secretary, Ministry of Mines
- Abhay Karandikar – Secretary, Department of Science & Technology
The move is part of a broader goal to boost research and technology in the critical mineral sector, which supports strategic domains like clean energy, electronics, space, mobility, and defence.
The Conscience Network, a book authored by journalist and writer Sugata Srinivasaraju, narrates the story of young Indian expatriates in the U.S. who chose to resist rather than stay silent during India’s Emergency (1975–77).
These youth led non-violent, morally-driven protests from abroad, advocating for democracy despite being away from their homeland.
The book sheds light on the global significance of democratic values and how courage transcends borders.
💼 Business & Economy
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has introduced a nationwide service enabling face authentication for customer transactions.
Designed to simplify banking processes, especially for the elderly and differently-abled, by offering a secure and accessible digital banking method.
Features:
- Developed under UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) guidelines
- Facial recognition-based transactions
- Eliminates the need for fingerprints or one-time passwords (OTPs)
The initiative aligns with IPPB’s customer-first motto: “Aapka Bank, Aapke Dwaar” (Your Bank at Your Doorstep), emphasizing inclusive and accessible financial services.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has consented to pay ₹40.35 crore to resolve regulatory issues raised by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Background of the charges:
- Unauthorized sharing of confidential, unpublished information with external entities
- Between February 2021 and March 2022, NSE allowed access to sensitive corporate data by a third-party vendor
- NSE Data & Analytics Ltd. (NDAL) disseminated this data to its clients, breaching SEBI’s insider trading norms
The matter has been settled without NSE admitting guilt, concluding SEBI’s regulatory proceedings. This case underscored lapses in governance within one of India’s premier stock exchanges.
🌐 International News
Three Indian Navy warships—INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan—visited Manila, Philippines, as part of India’s Southeast Asia naval deployment.
Key details:
- Ships are part of the Eastern Fleet
- Under the command of Rear Admiral Susheel Menon, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF)
- Warmly received by the Philippine Navy
The visit highlights India’s strategic commitment to bolstering partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
Renowned chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen won the first-ever Chess Esports World Cup (EWC 2025) held in Riyadh.
He defeated Alireza Firouzja of Team Falcons with an impressive performance.
Representing Team Liquid, Carlsen demonstrated excellence in both traditional and esports-format chess, reinforcing his dominance in the evolving world of competitive chess.
👔 Appointments
Shri Raj Kumar Arora assumed office as the new Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on August 1, 2025.
A 1990-batch officer from the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), he brings extensive experience in finance, procurement, auditing, and budgeting within the defence sector.
Notable previous roles:
- Additional Secretary at the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Finance Manager (Air) in the Acquisition Wing, Ministry of Defence
- Director at the Ministry of Finance
- Integrated Financial Advisor in several Defence Commands
Dr. Mayank Sharma took charge as Financial Advisor (Defence Services) on August 1, 2025.
An IDAS officer from the 1989 batch, he has over 30 years of experience in the Indian defence financial system.
He previously served as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).
Ms. Sonali Mishra, a 1993-batch IPS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
This is a historic appointment as she is the first woman to hold the DG/RPF post in the 143-year history of the force.
Tenure: Set to continue until her retirement on October 31, 2026.
The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The UK government has appointed Professor Michele Dougherty as the new Astronomer Royal.
She makes history as the first woman to occupy the role since its creation in 1675.
About the position:
- The position is honorary
- Traditionally involves advising the monarchy on astronomical matters
- Encouraging public interest in space and science
Professor Dougherty is well-known for her contributions to NASA’s Cassini mission.
📤 Found this useful? Help your friends stay updated too!
