The Indian Navy commissioned INS Malvan, the second vessel in the indigenous Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) series, at Karwar in Karnataka, strengthening its coastal anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the induction of INS Malvan, built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. in Kochi, marks the continued addition of a new generation of indigenous shallow-water anti-submarine warfare vessels designed to enhance the Navy’s coastal defence and surveillance capabilities.
Electrification of railway network on Indian Railways has been taken up in mission mode. So far, about 99.6% of Broad Gauge (BG) network has been electrified. The electrification in remaining network has been taken up.
From a solar-powered e-boat cruising through the maze of mangrove creeks in Pichavaram and honey produced through scientific beekeeping in the same ecosystem, to hybrid solar power systems installed at government buildings that reduce electricity consumption and the desilted waters of the Buckingham Canal that strengthen the health of the local ecosystem,
these interventions now define daily life in Killai, Tamil Nadu’s first fully operational Climate Resilient Village (CRV).
Implemented under the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM) of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Killai has transformed a climate-vulnerable coastal settlement into a working model of how ecosystem restoration, renewable energy,
and community-led action can jointly address cyclones, sea-level rise, saline intrusion, coastal erosion, and biodiversity loss.
Among 11 Climate Resilient Villages identified by WRI India in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Killai is the first where the CRV framework has been implemented.
Executed at a cost of Rs. 230.15 lakh through the District Climate Change Mission (DCCM) and Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) funds, the project has turned Killai into a benchmark for coastal climate adaptation in the State.
The Centre appointed IAS officer Anurag Jain, a 1989-batch officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog for two years. He replaces Nidhi Chibber, who held the additional charge of CEO NITI Aayog after BVR Subrahmanyam demitted office.
The order further stated that Jain's appointment will be on the same terms and conditions as those applicable to his predecessor. As chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh, Jain was instrumental in framing almost 30 sector-specific investment policies covering nearly all facets of trade and industry.
The Madhya Pradesh government appointed Ashok Barnwal, a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and Additional Chief Secretary in the state government, as the officiating Chief Secretary.
France, on July 21, 2026, became the first European Union (EU) nation to legislate a blanket ban on social media access to children under 15 years of age.
The ban had been a key priority on French President Emmanuel Macron’s agenda since his second term in office.
The law is set to roll out in two phases overseen by Arcom, France’s digital and audiovisual communications regulator. In phase one, with checks in place for age verification from September, anyone under 15 trying to open a social media account in the country, will be blocked from doing so.
In phase two, platforms will get until January 2027 to close existing under-15 accounts, which means even the existing accounts will have to undergo compulsory age verification. Exactly how the verification will be done remains unclear. But, authorities have promised to establish a reliable system before the rules are enforced.
France follows Australia’s lead, where since December 2025, a similar ban has been put to effect. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act requires platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Snapchat to implement age verification and take “reasonable steps” to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts.
After Australia, other countries including, Austria, Spain, Brazil, and the U.K. have been mulling similar restrictions on children’s access to social media.
The French legislation also comes ahead of expected EU-wide measures, following recent recommendations from an expert committee set up by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Lionel Messi became the first player to start three FIFA World Cup finals after being named in the starting line-up for Argentina’s clash against Spain in New Jersey.
La Albiceleste is looking to be just the third side to defend the title after Italy and Brazil. Messi has previously featured in the historic 2022 final win over France and the 2014 loss to Germany.
Only one other player in history has featured in three World Cup finals — Cafu for Brazil in 1994, 1998 and 2002. But, the right back came on as a substitute in the final against Italy in 1994.The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has 33 goal contributions in the World Cup and is the only player to receive the prestigious Golden Ball award for best player twice (2014 and 2022).
The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has announced the launch of Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs), a new segment aimed at bringing greater transparency, efficiency and formalisation to India’s gold market.
NSE said that the launch of EGRs is expected to bridge the gap between physical gold and financial markets by offering a regulated and secure platform for trading in gold.
EGRs are dematerialised securities that represent ownership of physical gold, which is stored in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) accredited vaults and held electronically through depositories. Each EGR is fully backed by physical gold and can be traded on the exchange, integrating gold into the formal financial system.
The exchange said that EGRs will allow investors to hold gold electronically with assured quality and also enable seamless conversion between physical and digital formats. Investors can participate even with smaller quantities, providing improved liquidity and flexibility, similar to other financial instruments held in demat form.
Glomo, a regulated payment service provider operating from GIFT International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), has become the first GIFT IFSC-licensed payment service provider and the first non-bank acquirer in India to receive Visa Principal Member status.
With Visa’s Principal Membership, Glomo will be able to process Visa-powered card payments directly for merchants onboarded to its platform. The capability enables businesses operating across international markets to accept and settle cross-border card payments through compliant infrastructure based at GIFT City, while reducing reliance on multiple intermediaries.
Private sector lender Federal Bank said S&P Global Ratings has assigned it an inaugural international issuer credit rating of BBB-/Stable for the long term and A-3 for the short term, placing the lender in the global investment-grade category.
The BBB- long-term issuer credit rating is the first international issuer credit rating assigned to the bank by S&P Global Ratings.
The bank said in a statement that the rating reflects its franchise strength, disciplined risk management, sound capitalisation, diversified funding profile, liquidity position and consistent financial performance.
Additionally, the bank said the investment-grade rating is expected to enhance its visibility among global investors and international financial institutions, while strengthening confidence among customers, counterparties and other stakeholders.
India continues to strengthen its position in the global cotton industry, ranking first in the world in terms of acreage under cultivation and second in both cotton production and consumption, according to an official government factsheet released.
Noted Tamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu was on Monday conferred the 60th Jnanpith Award for the year 2025.
He is the third Tamil literary figure to receive the award, after a gap of 24 years. Earlier recipients include the late writers Akilan and Jayakanthan. Mr. Vairamuthu won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003 for Kallikattu Ithikasam.
The award was presented by politician and scholar Karan Singh at a ceremony in the National Capital in the presence of literary personalities from across the country. As part of the honour, Mr Vairamuthu received a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh, a bronze statue of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) and a citation.
Established in 1944, Bharatiya Jnanpith is dedicated to the promotion of Indian languages, literature and cultural heritage. Instituted in 1961, the Jnanpith Award is conferred for outstanding lifetime contribution to literature in any of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
According to Bharatiya Jnanpith, 66 distinguished authors have been honoured with the award over the past six decades.
Among those present at the ceremony were Bharatiya Jnanpith Trustee Mudit Jain, Managing Trustee Sahu Akhilesh Jain, Jnanpith Award Selection Committee Chairperson Pratibha Ray, and Bharatiya Jnanpith General Manager R.N. Tewari, along with writers, others.
The US has imposed a 10 per cent tariff on goods imported from India and 16 other countries as part of a wider action against products made using forced labour.
On June 3, when the US had proposed tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act, India was bracketed among countries attracting 12.5 per cent levies, but Washington took note of the amendment New Delhi made to its foreign trade policy prohibiting the import of goods produced using forced labour.
On July 14, India amended its policy to introduce that prohibition.
The government amended the foreign trade policy to prohibit the import of goods produced using forced labour, amid a US investigation into forced labour practices in 60 countries, including India.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the new tariffs on 60 countries, a day before the expiration of 10 per cent additional levies on all countries.
Countries that do not have laws barring goods produced using forced labour such as China, the United Kingdom and Japan - will face tariffs of 12.5 per cent.
The forced labour tariffs will not apply to raw materials that would lead to unavailability of domestic supply; products that would cause economy-wide disruptions and on products that cannot be produced or grown in sufficient quantities in the US.
Of the 60 countries facing the tariffs, the 10 per cent rate applies to 17 countries, including India, Canada, the UK, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The other 43 will have to bear 12.5 per cent.
The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), under Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Government of Goa, organised the 'BHASHINI Rajyam: State Engagement Workshop' in Panaji.
Its for to advance multilingual AI and strengthen language-first Digital Public Infrastructure.
With a special focus on Konkani, the workshop highlighted how AI-powered language technologies can make digital governance more inclusive by enabling citizens to access government services, information and digital platforms in their preferred language.
NABARD and Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology, a Maharashtra government enterprise, signed an MoU to finance and promote green, climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure across rural India, with special focus on strengthening villages, Panchayati Raj Institutions and community-level infrastructure in Maharashtra.
The collaboration seeks to facilitate the identification, development, structuring and financing of sustainable projects that support rural prosperity, climate resilience, and improved quality of life in villages across India.
EnKash, India's leading business payments and spend management platform announced the launch of UPI-based payments on its Meal Card. With this addition, employees can make payments directly from their meal card balance by scanning eligible UPI QR codes at food and grocery merchants.
This makes EnKash the first provider in India to enable UPI payments directly from a meal benefit balance.
The new capability extends the UPI infrastructure that EnKash already offers across its Prepaid Payment Instrument portfolio.
Under the revised Income-tax reforms, eligible meal benefits of up to Rs. 200 per meal are available under both the old and new tax regimes, subject to prescribed conditions. Employees can receive up to Rs. 1,05,600 annually as a tax-free meal benefit. For HR teams, this makes meal benefits more inclusive, valuable and easier to offer across the workforce.
National Broadcasting Day observed on 23rd July. On this day in 1927, the first ever radio broadcast in the country went on air from the Bombay Station under the Indian Broadcasting Company.
On the 8th of June, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service became All India Radio (AIR).
In 1956 the name ‘AKASHVANI’ was adopted for the national broadcaster. The Vividh Bharati Service was launched in 1957 with popular film music as its main component.
Since 1927, radio has been an important part of people’s life in the country.
