🇮🇳 National News
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) introduced Phase II of its flagship program Niveshak Didi in Hyderabad.
The initiative is tailored for women-led financial literacy, especially targeting rural areas. Based on the concept of “for women, by women”, the scheme empowers underserved women to teach others about digital banking, fraud prevention, and safe investment practices.
- Strengthens financial inclusion and resilience
- Aligned with Digital India and Women-led Development goals
- Supports grassroots economic empowerment
On its 65th Foundation Day, the NCERT rolled out new initiatives aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
- Bal Vatika TV Channel – For pre-school learners
- DIKSHA 2.0 – With AI-enabled multilingual support
- PRASHAST 2.0 – For disability screening
- Inclusive UDL-based textbooks
- VR-enabled labs and regional primers
These efforts reaffirm NCERT’s commitment to digital transformation, inclusive education, and curriculum innovation, making school education more accessible, adaptive, and equitable across India.
A contingent of the Indian Army has departed for Fort Wainwright, Alaska, to participate in Yudh Abhyas 2025 (September 1–14).
This is the 21st edition of the annual India–US joint military exercise. The exercise will see the Madras Regiment and the US Army’s 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry “Bobcats” engage in drills.
- Arctic/mountain warfare
- Heliborne operations
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
- Battlefield medical aid
Conducted in Alaska’s extreme terrain, the exercise highlights deepening defense cooperation, multi-domain readiness, and joint preparedness for UN missions and future coalitions.
New Delhi has been chosen to host the 2026 BWF World Championships in August 2026.
- Event returns to India after 17 years (last held in Hyderabad in 2009)
- Returns to Asia after 8 years (last in Nanjing, China in 2018)
The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Paris Championships, reflecting India’s rising global status as a sports destination.
💼 Business & Economy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched Semicon India 2025 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
The mega event is designed to accelerate India’s semiconductor ecosystem development, with participation from global chip industry CEOs, start-ups, researchers, students, and representatives from over 48 countries.
India posted an impressive 7.8% GDP growth in Q1, surpassing global projections. Growth witnessed across manufacturing, services, agriculture, and construction sectors.
Raghav Gupta, former Managing Director (APAC) at Coursera, has been named as the Head of Education Vertical for OpenAI in the India and Asia-Pacific region.
The announcement came during the visit of Leah Belsky, VP & GM for Education at OpenAI, to New Delhi.
OpenAI is preparing to establish its first office in India later this year, emphasizing India’s growing role as a strategic market for AI-driven education and innovation.
Tata Electronics Private Limited and Merck signed a strategic MoU aimed at enhancing India’s semiconductor and electronics manufacturing strength.
- Align with the India Semiconductor Mission
- Bolster India’s ambition to become a global semiconductor hub
- Combine Merck’s global expertise in materials and technology with Tata’s manufacturing capabilities
- Focus on resilient and advanced semiconductor supply chains
🌐 International News
At the 2025 SCO Summit, China pledged $2 billion in grants and loans for member states.
- 100 livelihood projects
- More scholarships and PhD programs
- Plans for Luban Workshops
- 10,000 vocational training opportunities over five years
A highlight was the Tianjin Declaration on responsible AI development, where China presented AI breakthroughs, including the humanoid robot Xiao.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out India’s SCO vision, structured around three pillars:
- Security: Fighting terrorism and radicalization
- Connectivity: Strengthening regional trade corridors, including Chabahar Port and the INSTC
- Opportunity: Expanding innovation and cultural collaboration
PM Modi called for zero tolerance toward terrorism, urged global coordination, and suggested creating a Civilizational Dialogue Forum to enhance people-to-people relations.
He supported reforms in SCO mechanisms to address cybersecurity, drug trafficking, and transnational crime, and emphasized the need for global governance reforms, including the UN.
The Tianjin Declaration at the SCO Summit strongly denounced the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025.
It expressed condolences to victims, demanded justice against perpetrators, and condemned sponsors of terrorism.
- Reiterated SCO’s firm stance against terrorism, separatism, and extremism
- Rejected any double standards
- Emphasized accountability, intelligence sharing, and coordinated counter-terrorism strategies
Oscar Piastri secured a dramatic victory at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort for McLaren.
Teammate Lando Norris suffered a late mechanical issue, affecting his championship hopes.
| Position | Driver | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 3 | Isack Hadjar | First-ever F1 podium |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 5 | Alexander Albon | Started P15 |
| 6 | Ollie Bearman | Started from pit lane |
The race significantly impacted both Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings. Mercedes narrowed Ferrari’s lead, while Piastri extended his advantage over Norris to 34 points.
👔 Appointments
Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer, has assumed charge as the CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
His leadership comes at a time when India is pushing for major food safety reforms, public health initiatives, and regulatory modernization.
Veteran diplomat Dr. Deepak Mittal, a 1998-batch IFS officer, has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He has extensive diplomatic experience, having worked in the Prime Minister’s Office and foreign missions abroad.
His appointment is expected to deepen the strategic and people-centric partnership between India and the UAE.
🔬 Science & Technology
The Raman Research Institute (RRI) has engineered a compact single-board computer (SBC) for the PRATUSH mission.
The mission seeks to capture the faint 21-cm hydrogen signal from the Cosmic Dawn, by placing the instrument on the radio-quiet far side of the Moon.
- SBC has demonstrated high sensitivity and noise reduction in trials
- Operates as a low-power system
- Key leap for India’s cosmology research
This innovation will help scientists probe the formation of the first stars and galaxies in the early universe.
📅 Important Days
Skyscraper Day is observed every year on September 3.
The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Louis H. Sullivan, regarded as the “father of modern skyscrapers.”
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