INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Dubai Unveils Artificial Intelligence-Driven Passenger Corridor For Instant Immigration Clearance

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has launched the world's first artificial intelligence (AI)-powered passenger corridor for immigration clearance.

The initiative is part of Dubai's broader "Travel Without Borders" or "Unlimited Smart Travel"

The system allows up to 10 passengers to clear immigration simultaneously by simply walking through a designated path.

It uses facial recognition and pre-registered biometric data to verify identities in as little as 14 seconds.

This technology eliminates the need for passports, smart gates, or any other physical documents at the checkpoint.

The system initially launched in Terminal 3's First and Business Class lounges.

It is an advancement of Dubai's previous "smart tunnel" technology, which was introduced in 2020.

The AI verifies passenger data before they reach the checkpoint, while any suspicious cases are automatically flagged for expert review.

DXB has been the world's busiest international airport for 11 consecutive years.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Tata’s Nelco partners with Eutelsat

Nelco Limited, a Tata Group company and satellite communication service provider, has partnered with Eutelsat to offer OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity services in India.

The partnership involves Nelco working with OneWeb India Communications, which is Eutelsat's local operating entity.

This collaboration aims to provide secure, low-latency connectivity for customers in various sectors, including land, sea, and air.

The new services are intended to strengthen India's digital infrastructure and national security, while also providing reliable connectivity to underserved areas.

Nelco is a subsidiary of Tata Power, which is part of the broader Tata Group.

Eutelsat Communications S.A. is a major French satellite operator headquartered in Paris.

It provides global satellite communication services.

Assam Rifles Signs MoU with IIIT Manipur

Assam Rifles and IIIT Manipur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Mantripukhri to promote drone technology for defence and security.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Maj Gen Ravroop Singh, IG Assam Rifles (South), and the Director of IIIT Manipur, emphasizing defence– academia collaboration.

An Advanced Drone Training and Refresher Course was launched for Assam Rifles personnel.

The course covers drone flight operations, maintenance, and DGCA-certified training.

Aim: To enhance surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics support capabilities of Assam Rifles.

Around 80 participants, including defence personnel and IIIT faculty, took part in the programme.

The initiative reflects a shared commitment to innovation and capacity building in defence technology.

 

BANKING

SEBI Plans Relaxation Of Minimum Shareholding Rules To Support Growing Market

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed increasing the flexibility of Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) and Minimum Public Offer (MPO) for listed companies.

The aim of these proposals is to simplify fund-raising by issuers in India.

SEBI proposes to raise the MPO for companies at listing and adjust the MPS post-listing, while also extending the timelines to achieve the MPS.

New post-issue market capitalization (m-cap) threshold buckets have been proposed: ₹4,000 crore to ₹50,000 crore, ₹50,000 crore to ₹1 lakh crore, ₹1 lakh crore to ₹5 lakh crore, and above ₹5 lakh crore.

For issuers with a post-issue market cap between ₹50,000 crore and ₹1 lakh crore, the timeline for achieving 25% MPS may be extended from 3 years to 5 years from the date of listing.

For other categories (implicitly, those with higher market caps or specific conditions), it's proposed to allow five years to achieve 15% shareholding and 10 years to achieve 25% post-listing MPS.

BoM And SBI Card Launch Co-Branded Credit Cards On Rupay And Visa Platforms

Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has partnered with SBI Card to launch a co-branded credit card called the "Bank of Maharashtra SBI Card."

The card will be available on both the RuPay and VISA payment platforms.

It has been launched in three variants: ELITE, PRIME, and SimplySAVE.

The partnership aims to provide customers with enhanced value and convenience, catering to their diverse needs.

Key benefits of the card include accelerated reward points, a fuel surcharge waiver, discounts on travel, dining, and shopping, and contactless payment capabilities.

RBI Reports UAE Emerges As Largest Foreign Investor In Indian Mutual Funds

According to a survey by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), The UAE has become the largest foreign investor in Indian mutual funds.

The survey covered 45 mutual funds and their asset management companies (AMCs).

Foreign liabilities of Indian mutual funds increased by 19.9% to reach $30.5 billion by March 2025.

The UAE holds the highest share of non-resident mutual fund units in both face value and market value

The face value of holdings from the UAE surged by 32.8% to ₹13,386 crore.

In market value terms, UAE holdings jumped 28% to ₹52,549 crore, accounting for a 20% market share of foreign liabilities.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Indranil Bhattacharyya To Join Reserve Bank Of India's Monetary Policy Committee

Indranil Bhattacharyya, the Executive Director of the RBI’s Monetary Policy Department, is set to join the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

He will replace Rajiv Ranjan, who has been a member of the committee since 2022.

Rajiv Ranjan will reportedly move to lead the Department of Economic & Policy Research at the RBI.

Indranil Bhattacharyya was appointed as an Executive Director on March 19, 2025.

The central bank's board is expected to approve his nomination in an upcoming meeting.

The MPC is a six-member panel responsible for setting India's benchmark interest rate.

It comprises the RBI Governor, a Deputy Governor, an Executive Director, and three external members.

This change will affect the composition of the six-member panel, which currently includes Sanjay Malhotra (Governor), Poonam Gupta (Deputy Governor), Rajiv Ranjan, and the external members Nagesh Kumar, Ram Singh, and Saugata Bhattacharya.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Humanitarian Day

World Humanitarian Day is observed every year on August 19 to honour the courage, sacrifice, and efforts of humanitarian workers worldwide.

Theme 2025: “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities” — highlighting collective compassion and the role of local communities in humanitarian response.

The Day commemorates the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 22 aid workers.

It serves as a platform to promote the safety, dignity, and well-being of aid workers and affected communities.

Focus: Reminds the world that during global crises such as conflicts and climate change, unity and empathy are key tools for resilience.

World Mosquito Day

World Mosquito Day is observed annually on 20 August.

World Mosquito Day was first established in 1897 by Sir Ronald Ross who discovered that female mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans.

World Mosquito Day is dedicated to the memory of Sir Ronald Ross. As per one World Health Organisation (WHO) report, mosquitoes kill nearly 7-10 lakh people annually by transmitting diseases.

A mosquito can make you sick, disable and cause death. Elephantiasis is one of the biggest causes of disability caused by mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide that you keep breathing out from as far as 75 feet. Sir Ronald Ross was first observed on 20 August 1897.

On World Mosquito Day many seminars and exhibitions are organized to raise awareness about saluting scientists and many other people who have contributed to fighting malaria.