The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nipman Foundation and Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) to launch the Breaking Barriers Fellowship,
a program designed to place young professionals across DEPwD offices to strengthen policy support and advance the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
The collaboration will remain in force for one year, with provision for extension by mutual agreement.
India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to launch negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Moscow.
The ToR provides the framework for negotiations and is expected to unlock untapped trade potential, increase investments and establish a stronger, durable India–EAEU economic partnership. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the early conclusion of the agreement and to building a long-term institutional framework for trade cooperation.
The ToR was signed by Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, Shri Ajay Bhadoo, and Deputy Director, Trade Policy Department, Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), Mr. Mikhail Cherekaev.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has released provisional payroll data for June 2025, revealing a net addition of 21.89 lakh members, marking the highest recorded addition since payroll data tracking began in April 2018. This figure depicts an increase of 9.14 % in net payroll additions during the current month as compared to the previous month of May 2025.
Further, the year-on-year analysis reveals a growth of 13.46 % in net payroll additions in June 2025 compared to June 2024, signifying increased employment opportunities and heightened awareness of employee benefits, bolstered by EPFO’s effective outreach initiatives.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has onboarded satellite-based internet provider Starlink Satellite Communication Pvt Ltd. Starlink will use Aadhaar Authentication for customer verification, which will make the entire process smooth, secure and very easy.
Aadhaar, one of the most trusted digital identity systems, will ensure that customer onboarding is quick, paperless, and compliant with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
Starlink’s onboarding with Aadhaar authentication signifies a powerful synergy: India’s trusted digital identity joining hands with global satellite technology.
India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to deepen bilateral maritime relations, an official statement said.
Both countries have formed a Joint Working Group (JWG) on maritime cooperation in the shipping and logistics sectors, marking a new chapter in the strategic partnership, the statement said.
This decision was taken during a high-level virtual meeting between Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser.
The establishment of the strategic partnership council, co-chaired by the leaders of both countries,
has elevated bilateral cooperation to new heights. Sonowal pointed to recent developments, including the launch of the Jeddah-Mundra/Nhava Sheva route by Saudi Arabia's Folk Maritime Services, which is expected to cut down transit times and costs.
He also proposed collaboration on India's MAITRI digital platform for the harmonisation of maritime trade.
Saudi Arabia is India's fifth-largest trading partner, while India stands as the Kingdom's second-largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in FY 2024-25 stood at approximately USD 42 billion.
The Maritime Development Fund, with a corpus of more than USD 3 billion, offers opportunities in port infrastructure, coastal shipping and logistics.
Mega projects such as Vadhavan Port on India's west coast and the Outer Harbour Project at VO Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu were showcased as key investment destinations.
India invited Saudi Arabia to explore investment prospects across its port and shipping ecosystem.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a new rehabilitation initiative, the "Shramshree" scheme, aimed at Bengali migrant workers returning to the state after alleged harassment and discrimination in other states for speaking Bengali.
Under the Shramshree scheme, each returning worker will receive ₹5,000 per month for a year or until they secure new employment in Bengal.
Meanwhile, The West Bengal government has ordered the screening of at least one Bengali film each in all the cinema halls and every screen in multiplexes across the state on a regular basis.
It further stated that every cinema hall and all screens in multiplexes in West Bengal must mandatorily have 365 prime time shows/screenings of Bengali films throughout the year, with at least one Bengali show per day for the 365 days.
It emphasised that the prime time shows must be held only between 3 pm and 9 pm.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has etched his name into Premier League history, becoming the first player ever to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award three times. The Egyptian star received the 2024-25 honour during a ceremony at the Manchester Opera House.
Salah’s latest win adds to his previous successes in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 seasons, making him the most decorated player in the award’s history. His exceptional contribution to Liverpool’s title-winning campaign, 29 goals and 18 assists, played a major role in the Reds reclaiming the Premier League crown.
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers was named PFA Young Player of the Year, while Mariona Caldentey claimed the Women’s Super League equivalent. In the Championship, goalkeeper James Trafford earned top honours after an impressive season with Burnley.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced two new modules on ‘Operation Sindoor — A saga of valour’ for Classes 3 to 8 and ‘Operation Sindoor — A mission of honour and bravery,’ for Classes 9 to 12.
The modules state that ‘Pakistan denied any involvement and didn’t take any steps to stop the terrorists’ and also states that the attack was ‘directly ordered by Pakistan’s political and military leadership.’
The modules are meant as supplementary reading material for schoolchildren and are available online on NCERT website.
The India Post has rolled out Rs 5,800-crore Advanced Postal Technology across the country that will transform it into world-class public logistics organization by enabling mobile-ready services and real time decision making, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said.
The Advanced Postal Technology (APT) based infrastructure gives India Post access to new technology layers like modern logistics companies.
The technology platform will enable India Post to support full fledged digital transactions and accept UPI payments for services from customers of any bank.
Earlier, UPI transactions of only India Post Payments Bank accounts were supported at post offices for purchase of services and other payments due to technical issues.
The minister said the new technology will "Enable real-time decision making, boost e-commerce reach, cut operational costs through automation and deliver citizen-first, mobile-ready services anywhere-anytime.
Dubai has introduced ‘One Freezone Passport’, a new scheme that allows companies licensed in one free zone to expand operations into other free zones across the emirate without requiring an additional licence. Globally renowned luxury brand, Louis Vuitton, has become the first corporate member under this scheme.
The programme, introduced by the Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC), is introduced to streamline business expansion and reduce regulatory barriers. Louis Vuitton will now operate its warehouse in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) while setting up its corporate office at One Za’abeel, part of the DWTC Free Zone. The entire process was completed in just five days.
Free zones in the UAE are special economic areas that provide 100 per cent foreign ownership, tax exemptions, customs benefits and independent regulatory frameworks. More than 40 such free zones operate across the country, catering to sectors like logistics, healthcare, fintech, media, design and luxury retail.
These zones have attracted global businesses by offering flexibility and world-class infrastructure.
Dubai has more than 20 free zones that contribute significantly to non-oil trade, offering 100 per cent foreign ownership and tax exemptions. In the first quarter of this year, the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade grew 18.6 per cent year-on-year to Dh835 billion.
However, authorities clarified that the passport has limits. Businesses cannot hire or transfer staff into other free zones under this arrangement. Certain sectors, such as retail, are not eligible. Additionally, virtual offices, desk sharing, shared spaces, and business centres are not permitted. Regulatory updates are expected as the initiative progresses.
The Lok Sabha passed The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, by a voice vote August 20, 2025. The Bill seeks “to prohibit the offering, operation, facilitation, advertisement, promotion and participation in online money games”, targeting firms that offer fantasy sports and card games where users can deposit and risk money.
Online real-money gaming (RMG) refers to digital platforms where players pay to participate in games and can win cash rewards. These include any online games involving cash stakes and monetary winnings. Banks and payment providers will also be prohibited from processing RMG transactions.
Under the draft Bill, all online real-money gaming services are covered.
This means any game where users stake or win money would be banned, as the Bill makes it an offence to “offer, aid, abet, induce, or otherwise promote” such games.
The Ministry of Railways announced a milestone in green energy innovation with the commissioning of India’s first removable solar panel system installed between railway tracks at Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways also expanded its freight operations.
On August 10, the first industrial salt-loaded rake was flagged off from Sanosara (Bhuj–Naliya section) to Dahej. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new logistics solution would open “new avenues” for the region’s salt industry.
n another development, Western Railway on August 12 successfully commissioned and energised the country’s first 2×25 kV Electric Traction System at the Nagda–Khachrod section under the Ratlam Division.
The system, which includes two Scott-connected 100 MVA power transformers, is designed to ensure efficient feeding of electrical load to the overhead equipment (OHE).
Officials said the Nagda traction sub-station is the first in India to be energised using Scott Transformer technology, marking a step forward in railway electrification infrastructure.
Retail inflation for farm and rural workers eased to 0.77 per cent and 1.01 per cent in July from 1.42 per cent and 1.73 per cent, respectively, in June, according to data released by the Labour Ministry.
The All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers increased by 1.23 points to 135.31 in July 2025,
while the index for Rural Labourers increased by 1.30 points, reaching 135.66, a Labour Ministry statement said.
The Food Index increased by 1.94 points for Agricultural Labourers (AL) and 2.16 points for Rural Labourers (RL) in July 2025.
