Economic and Developmental Highlights:
India's retail inflation recorded an eight-year low of 1.55% in July 2025, signaling a positive economic trend. In a significant move to boost domestic manufacturing and technological self-reliance, the Union Cabinet approved four new semiconductor projects with a total investment of Rs 4,594 crore. Furthermore, India's defence production has reached a record high of Rs 1.51 lakh crore in Fiscal Year 2025, as announced by Union Minister Rajnath Singh. The State Bank of India (SBI) reported a rise in its June quarter profit to ā¹19,160 crore, driven by treasury gains and improved asset quality. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also unveiled three key steps aimed at enhancing banking convenience and financial inclusion.
Policy and Legislative Updates:
A landmark legislative change is on the horizon with the Parliament enacting the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, which will replace the Income Tax Act of 1961, effective April 1, 2026. This new bill aims to simplify tax laws by significantly reducing sections and chapters. Concurrently, the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was also passed. The government has affirmed its commitment to continue its legislative agenda despite disruptions during the ongoing Monsoon Session, which is scheduled to conclude on August 21, 2025.
International Relations and Diplomacy:
India and China are reportedly in advanced stages of negotiations to resume direct flight services between the two nations, a development that precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anticipated visit to Tianjin, China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit later this month. This move comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding India's trade relations with the US. In other diplomatic engagements, India and Kazakhstan are actively discussing ways to enhance their defence and military cooperation. However, concerns have been raised by a panel regarding a potential combined naval threat from China and Pakistan.
Judicial and Political Developments:
In New Delhi, dozens of individuals were detained while protesting a Supreme Court ruling aimed at addressing the city's stray dog problem. The ruling mandates the capture, sterilization, and relocation of 5,000 dogs from "high-risk areas." Separately, leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were detained as they attempted to march to the Election Commission. They were protesting alleged "vote theft" and issues surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The Lok Sabha Speaker has also accepted a motion to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma.
Key Social and Environmental News:
The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has issued a 10-point advisory aimed at prioritizing women in organ transplants, marking a significant policy update in India's organ transplant system. Punjab has taken a crucial step in border security by deploying the 'Baaj Akh Anti-Drone System' to combat drug and weapon smuggling. In environmental news, a new plant species, Heptapleurum assamicum, was discovered in Assam, and a Blue Pinkgill mushroom was found in Telangana forests. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Hyderabad, and monsoon rains continue to affect various regions, including Jammu, Uttarakhand, and Delhi. In an innovative step, India launched its first Drone-AI Powered Artificial Rain Experiment in Jaipur.
Education and Examinations:
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has deferred the Combined Graduate Level Exam (CGLE) to September 2025. The deferment is attributed to the need for a "rigorous evaluation of the examination platform and operational readiness," following recent reforms in computer-based examinations.