NATIONAL NEWS

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Intelligence and Investigations Workshop 2025

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) India, supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, hosted the second World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Workshop in New Delhi.

Organized under WADA’s auspices and in partnership with INTERPOL and Sport Integrity Australia, the workshop brought together anti-doping and law-enforcement professionals from 11 countries across Asia to advance intelligence-led collaboration and protect the integrity of sport.

Delegates include India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Brunei, and the Philippines, alongside experts from WADA, INTERPOL, and Sport Integrity Australia.

It emphasized the need for cross-border cooperation and intelligence-driven investigations to uphold fair and clean competition.

This workshop is the second of four in Asia–Oceania, with the final session scheduled for April 2026, underscoring India’s ongoing contribution to global anti-doping efforts.

Bima Sakhi Yojana: A pioneering model of social security and women empowerment

Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighted the historic launch of the Bima Sakhi Yojana under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He described the scheme as a landmark initiative aimed at women’s empowerment and providing economic security to rural and semi-urban India.

The Ministry of Rural Development has partnered with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to fulfill the Government’s mission of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’.

Trained women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be appointed as ‘Bima Sakhis’ at the Gram Panchayat level. This initiative promotes women’s entrepreneurship and financial independence.

The scheme enables rural women to create new income streams, contributing to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and supporting the Lakhpati Didi Mission, which aims to reach 2 crore empowered women (‘Lakhpati Didis’) by August 15.

The ‘Bima Sakhi’ scheme is fostering local employment in both urban and rural areas and increasing women’s workforce participation.

Bima Sakhis help expand access to insurance schemes and provide trust-based financial services at the last mile, particularly important for disaster-affected families.

The initiative complements other key schemes like Jan-Dhan Se Jan Suraksha, Digital India, and women’s skill development programs.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India’s Seafood Sector Set for 70% Export Surge to United Kingdom

The India–United Kingdom (UK) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed on July 24, 2025, by PM Narendra Modi and UK PM Sir Keir Starmer.

The agreement offers zero-duty access on 99% of tariff lines, including significant sectors like marine products, textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery.

For the marine sector, CETA removes import tariffs on a wide range of seafood products, improving Indian exporters’ competitiveness in the UK market.

Key Indian seafood exports benefiting from duty-free access include: Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), Frozen squid, Lobsters, Frozen pomfret and Black tiger shrimp

All fish and fisheries commodities under UK tariff categories marked ‘A’ enjoy 100% duty-free access from the agreement’s enforcement date.

French President Emmanuel Macron to Announce France’s Formal Recognition of Palestine

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September 2025.

France will be the most powerful European country to take this step, joining 142 countries that already recognize or plan to recognize Palestinian statehood (as per an AFP tally).

Macron’s move follows Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in 2023, in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Israel and the United States strongly oppose international recognition of a Palestinian state.

Israel condemned Macron’s decision; Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin called it a “shameless decision” and “direct aid to terrorism.”

Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed the announcement, calling it support for Palestinian self-determination and international law.

Macron emphasized the “urgent priority” of ending the war in Gaza and rescuing the civilian population.

He also stressed on building a viable, demilitarized Palestinian state that recognises Israel and contributes to Middle East security.

WHO and France have accused Israel of causing a man-made hunger crisis in Gaza through a blockade.

 

BANKING

IRDAI to Introduce Internal Insurance Ombudsman

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India plans to introduce an Internal Insurance Ombudsman in all insurance companies (except reinsurers) to strengthen policyholder protection and boost trust.

The ombudsman will handle unresolved or escalated complaints fairly, transparently, and within a set timeframe.

The framework applies to insurers with more than 3 years of operations (excluding reinsurers).

Insurers must appoint an Internal Insurance Ombudsman to handle complaints involving claims up to ₹50 lakh.

Insurers can appoint more than one ombudsman with clearly defined jurisdiction to ensure effective coverage and quick response.

The Internal Insurance Ombudsman will functionally report to the Board or the Policyholder Protection, Grievance Redressal and Claims Monitoring Committee (PPGR & CM).

The ombudsmen will administratively report to the Managing Director (MD)/CEO.

Federal Bank Introduces Biometric Authentication for E-commerce Card Transactions

Federal Bank, in partnership with fintech firms M2P and MinkasuPay, launched the first-ever biometric authentication solution for e-commerce card transactions.

Customers can authenticate online purchases using fingerprint or face ID.

The solution replaces OTP-based authentication with biometric verification, reducing transaction time to 3–4 seconds.

It enhances security and user experience by combining simplicity with strong protection.

Fully compliant with RBI’s Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

It provides fallback to OTP if biometric data cannot be captured.

Customers can enrol with one-time consent during checkout.

Merchants can integrate the solution using a lightweight SDK.

Currently available for Federal Bank debit and credit cardholders at select partner merchants, with plans for phased expansion

 

DEFENCE

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 Begins in Jodhpur

The 14th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 commenced on July 25, 2025, at Jodhpur, continuing until August 4, 2025.

Participants include the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment of the 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade and the Indian Army’s Mechanised Infantry Regiment.

The exercise is conducted as a Table Top Exercise and Computer-Based Wargame, focusing on validating operational procedures for mechanised warfare.

The exercise will conclude with an equipment display by the Indian Army.

It enhances interoperability and joint training capabilities of both armies under the United Nations mandate.

It strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between India and Singapore.

The exercise aims to consolidate strong defence ties and promote mutual understanding and collaboration at both tactical and strategic

India Successfully Conducts Flight Trials of Drone-Launched Missile ULPGM-V3

India conducted flight trials of a drone-launched missile, named ULPGM-V3, at a test range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, July 25, 2025.

The missile has anti-armour and anti-bunker capabilities and is an upgraded version developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

ULPGM-V3 is equipped with a high-definition dual CCD seeker allowing it to strike high-value targets in complex environments during day and night battle conditions.

The test achieved all mission objectives, according to the Defence Ministry.

The missile system is intended for use by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The weapon features a thermobaric warhead option and modern armour-defeating anti-armour warheads with high lethality.

Three configurations of the missile were successfully tested.

The missile was launched from a UAV developed by Indian start-up NewSpace Research and Technologies, Bengaluru.

DRDO aims to integrate ULPGM systems with indigenous fixed- and rotary-wing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) from Indian firms such as Tata, IdeaForge, and NewSpace.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

First Woman Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University

Prof Uma Kanjilal has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position.

She has been serving as acting VC since July 25, 2024, and has over 36 years of experience in Open and Distance Learning (ODL).

Previously, she was Pro-Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU from March 2021 to July 2024.

Her earlier leadership roles at IGNOU include:

Director, Centre for Online Education (2019–2021)

Director, Inter-University Consortium for Technology Enabled Flexible Education (2016–2019)

Director, Advanced Centre for Informatics and Innovative Learning (2012–2013)

Director, School of Social Sciences (2007–2010)

University Librarian (2004–2006)

Faculty member at IGNOU since 2003, specializing as a Professor in Library and Information Science.

New President of ASSOCHAM

Nirmal K. Minda is set to become the new President of ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India), succeeding Sanjay Nayar.

He is currently the Executive Chairman of Uno Minda, a leading auto components manufacturer.

Minda has been appointed as Senior Vice-President of ASSOCHAM.

Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO of Axis Bank, is set to become the Vice-President of ASSOCHAM, subject to RBI approval.

Minda is a veteran industrialist with over 50 years of experience in the auto components sector.

Under his leadership, Uno Minda:Has a market capitalization of approx. ₹62,566 crore, Generated annual revenue of ₹16,775 crore in FY25

He is a former President of ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India).

He was awarded the ‘EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Manufacturing’ in 2019.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Nature Conservation Day

On July 28th, World Nature Conservation Day 2025is celebrated and observed all over the world as an awareness program to conserve Nature.

The World Nature Conservation theme for 2025 is “Connecting People and Plants, Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.”

In 2018, The E.U. completely restricted the outdoor use of three neonicotinoids (a type of pesticide).

Between 1995 — 1996, Thirty-one gray wolves from western Canada were released into Yellowstone National Park, 40 years after they were wiped out by people.

In 1973, The Endangered Species Act was passed to encourage the conservation of ecosystems upon which threatened and endangered species rely for survival.

On October 5, 1948, In Fontainebleau, a small town in France, the International Union for Conservation of Nature was established.