NATIONAL NEWS

India’s First Hindi-Medium Medical College to be Established in Jabalpur

In a pioneering move, Madhya Pradesh is set to launch the country’s first dedicated Hindi-medium medical college in Jabalpur, under the state-run Medical Science University (MSU).

This follows the earlier step taken in 2022, when MBBS courses in Hindi were introduced in medical colleges of the state.

According to MSU Vice Chancellor Dr. Ashok Khandelwal, the proposal for the Hindi-medium medical college has been approved by the executive council of the university and is now progressing through the state government and National Medical Commission (NMC) for necessary approvals.

This will be the first medical college in India dedicated entirely to the Hindi language, aiming to become a medical institute of excellence.

The college will be located in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and is expected to begin operations in the 2027–28 academic year, subject to timely approvals.

It will be a residential college with an initial intake capacity of 50 students.

The entire project will be funded by the state government, and land for the institute has already been identified.

The MBBS syllabus has been translated into Hindi, and Hindi-medium MBBS teaching infrastructure is already in place.

It was observed that students who struggled with English performed better when exams were conducted in Hindi.

Bihar Government Establishes State Sanitation Workers Commission

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced the formation of the Bihar Rajya Safai Karmachari Ayog (Bihar State Sanitation Workers Commission), fulfilling a long-standing demand from sanitation workers’ unions.

The move aims to safeguard the rights, dignity, and welfare of those engaged in sanitation services across the state.

The newly formed commission will ensure the protection of rights and interests of sanitation workers and focus on their welfare, rehabilitation, social upliftment, and grievance redressal.

The Department of Social Welfare has been tasked with initiating the process of establishing the commission and implementing related activities.

The commission will provide recommendations to the state government on the protection and welfare of sanitation workers and monitor the implementation of welfare schemes related to their work.

The Bihar Rajya Safai Karmachari Ayog will include a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and five members, with mandatory representation of a woman or transgender person.

The Chief Minister expressed that the commission will help mainstream marginalized communities involved in sanitation work and contribute to their economic and social advancement.

TEMA India Commissions India’s First Private Test Facility

In a landmark development for India's nuclear energy sector, TEMA India Ltd. has commissioned the nation’s first private test facility for the upgradation of depleted heavy water, signaling a significant stride toward Atma-Nirbhar Bharat in the high-tech nuclear domain.

The facility, designed under a technology transfer from BARC and developed following a Purchase Order from NPCIL, is the first of its kind in the Indian private sector.

The facility is a state-of-the-art testing platform developed entirely by TEMA India’s nuclear vertical, with all components and validation processes executed in-house.

The dignitaries flagged off the first validated consignment—eight Distillation Column sections containing activated phosphor bronze modules, critical for Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).

These tested modules will be deployed in several nuclear projects including RAPP Unit 8, GHAVP Units 1–4, and KAIGA Units 5 & 6.

Previously, testing infrastructure for heavy water distillation was available only at BARC. This private facility reduces dependence on public infrastructure and imported technologies.

This achievement reinforces India’s move toward self-sufficiency in strategic sectors, cutting reliance on external suppliers and bolstering national capability in nuclear energy technology.

The commissioning event included a traditional pooja, tree plantation, and a symbolic dispatch of the first shipment, marking the entry of private industry into advanced nuclear validation.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

United States and European Union Reach Trade Agreement

The United States (US) and European Union (EU) have reached a trade deal to avoid a 15% tariff on most EU exports, including automobiles.

The deal helps prevent a potential trade war, safeguarding the global economy.

The agreement was finalized before a Friday deadline, when higher tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump were set to begin.

Earlier, Trump had threatened a 50% tariff on nearly all EU goods, later reducing it to 30% before settling through this deal.

The deal was announced after a meeting in Scotland between President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The agreement spans over $800 billion in bilateral trade, covering automobile tariffs and related sectors.

The EU committed to purchasing $750 billion in U.S. exports, including energy, raw materials, and industrial equipment.

The goal is to open U.S. markets to EU goods, thereby avoiding tariffs and stabilizing global trade.

Trump called it "the biggest of all the deals," and von der Leyen termed it a "major step forward" in EU–U.S. trade relations.

The agreement also involves removal of transatlantic import tariffs, reducing uncertainty and improving commerce.

Separately, the U.S. and China are expected to extend their trade truce by 90 days, postponing additional tariffs and continuing negotiations.

Environment Ministry Forms Dedicated COP-33 Cell for 2028 United Nations Climate Summit

The Environment Ministry has established a dedicated COP-33 Cell to manage professional and logistical requirements for the 2028 United Nations climate summit (COP 33).

The COP-33 Cell will operate under the Climate Change Division of the ministry and will be headed by the Joint Secretary (Climate Change). It will include officers, consultants, and support staff.

During COP 28 in Dubai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed India as the host country for COP 33.

If approved by the UNFCCC, COP 33 will be the second UN climate conference hosted by India, the first being COP 8 in New Delhi, 2002.

Hosting COP 33 would follow India’s successful presidency of the G20 summit in 2023 and strengthen India’s role in global climate negotiations.

India has committed to the following climate goals:

Reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).

Achieve 50% of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources.

Reach net-zero emissions by 2070.

India’s renewable energy capacity has surpassed 245 GW, meeting the target of 50% installed power capacity from non-fossil sources five years ahead of the 2030 deadline.

Syria to Conduct Parliamentary Elections in September 2025

Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September 2025, as announced by Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, head of the Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections.

Elections will be conducted between September 15 and 20, 2025.

These will be the first elections under new authorities after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad during a rebel offensive in December 2024.

Of the 210 parliamentary seats, one-third will be appointed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and the remaining seats will be elected.

Electoral colleges will be set up in each province to vote for elected seats.

A temporary constitution was signed by Ahmad al-Sharaa in March 2025, which established a People’s Committee to serve as an interim parliament until a permanent constitution and general elections are completed.

The elections are announced amid sectarian violence in the Suwayda province, where clashes between Bedouin clans and Druze fighters have led to hundreds of deaths.

Syrian government forces intervened, reportedly siding with the Bedouin clans, and were accused of executing Druze civilians and burning houses.

Israel launched airstrikes on Syrian government forces and the Defense Ministry, citing the need to protect the Druze minority.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO to Launch NVS-03, NVS-04, and NVS-05 Satellites by 2026

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch three more navigation satellites: NVS-03, NVS-04, and NVS-05 by 2026 to strengthen the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

The system, now known as Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), is an autonomous regional navigation satellite system designed to serve both civilian and military

NavIC covers India and up to 1,500 km beyond its borders, offering precise Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT)

The constellation consists of 7 satellites: 3 in geostationary orbit and 4 in inclined geosynchronous orbit, supported by a robust network of ground stations including control centres and timing facilities.

NavIC provides two services:

Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilians

Restricted Service (RS) for strategic (military) users.

It delivers location accuracy better than 20 meters and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds.

Currently, only 4 out of 7 satellites are fully functional.

The NVS Series (NVS-01 to NVS-05) are the second-generation NavIC satellites designed to enhance the constellation.

The NVS satellites incorporate L1 band communication, improving NavIC’s compatibility and usability for diverse applications.

The NVS series aims to strengthen the PND ecosystem and expand NavIC-based applications, including:Strategic uses, Shipping vessel tracking, Time synchronization, Train tracking, Safety alert dissemination

 

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Conference ‘SHAPE 2025’

The Department of Hospital Administration at Army Hospital Research and Referral (AHRR), New Delhi, organised the first-ever Armed Forces National Conference titled SHAPE 2025: Sustainable Hospital Architecture, Planning, Infrastructure and Equipment on July 26-27, 2025.

The event was attended by over 275 experts from Armed Forces and civil domains including hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, engineers, and architects.

The conference was inaugurated by Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin and Director, AIIMS (New Delhi) Dr M. Srinivas.

SHAPE 2025 aimed at creating a unified vision for sustainable, resilient, and patient-friendly hospital infrastructure in India.

The event is aligned with the national agenda of Viksit Bharat@2047, India’s centenary of independence vision.

The conference focused on moving beyond conventional blueprint-based planning towards environmentally conscious, technologically enabled, and contextually aligned health infrastructure.

Sustainability in healthcare was highlighted as vital for environmental impact, national preparedness, health equity, and patient safety.

The framework proposed includes integration of green technologies such as:Solar energy, Rainwater harvesting, Disaster-resilient design, Zero-emission infrastructure

SHAPE 2025 fostered collaboration across military, civil, and private sectors to build a comprehensive doctrine on:Sustainable hospital infrastructure, Architecture, Planning, Equipment management

The initiative marks a turning point in healthcare transformation, aiming to create climate-conscious, people-centric hospital ecosystems.

SHAPE 2025 supports the goal of a resilient and health-secure India, aligned with the Vision 2047 national aspirations.

 

SPORTS

Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships

India’s Divyanshi Bhowmick secured a landmark victory in U-15 Girls’ Singles, claiming gold at the 29th Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships held in Tashkent.

In the final, the second-seeded Divyanshi defeated China’s Zhu Qihi 4-2, ensuring her place in the upcoming World Youth Championships.

Her semifinal match saw a hard-fought seven-game win against China’s Liu Ziling.

Divyanshi Bhowmick clinched the U-15 Girls' Singles gold, beating China’s Zhu Qihi 4-2 in the final.

Her gold medal win earned her a direct berth to the World Youth Championships.

She advanced to the final after a gritty win against China’s Liu Ziling in a seven-game battle.

The Indian contingent finished with one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals at the tournament.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Tiger Day

International Tiger Day 2025 is celebrated and observed worldwide as an awareness program on July 29th which brings attention to the declining numbers of the largest of the big cats, is observed.

In 1973, India launched Project Tiger to revive the tiger population.

In 2010, 13 tiger range countries committed to TX2 to double wild tiger numbers by 2025.

In 2017, IUCN recognized the continental tiger and the Sunda island tiger as tiger subspecies.

In 2025, The WWF aims to double the number of wild tigers in 2025.