In a significant economic update, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised India's growth forecast upward to 6.4% for both FY2025-26 and FY2026-27. This projection solidifies India's standing as the world's fastest-growing major economy, as per the IMF's July 2025 World Economic Outlook Update. This positive outlook comes as India also re-evaluates its restrictive stance on Chinese investments in electronics manufacturing, aiming to boost domestic production and deeper integration into global supply chains.
On the defence front, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted two consecutive flight-tests of the Pralay quasi-ballistic missile from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. The Pralay missile is designed to carry conventional warheads, features high precision, and possesses the advanced capability to alter its trajectory mid-air after covering a certain range. In a related security development, Indian forces successfully eliminated three militants responsible for the deadly Pahalgam attack in April 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists in Kashmir. Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the militants were from Pakistan, a matter that was subsequently debated in Parliament.
India's space exploration efforts are set to receive a boost with the scheduled launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite today, July 30, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This joint mission between ISRO and NASA is a crucial step in advanced earth observation.
Environmental conservation remains a key focus. The latest report, released on Global Tiger Day 2025, indicates that Kaziranga National Park in Assam now holds the third-highest tiger density in India, recording 18.65 tigers per 100 sq. km, following Bandipur and Corbett Tiger Reserves. Overall, India continues to host the world's largest tiger population, now exceeding 3,600. Additionally, a new study by IIT Gandhinagar highlighted the increasing threat of flash floods across India, identifying the Himalayas, western coast, and Central India as primary hotspots.
In a move to bolster agricultural self-reliance, the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO–Oilseeds) was launched for the period 2024-25 to 2030-31. With a budget of ₹10,103 crore, the mission aims to significantly increase oilseed production to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31, striving for self-sufficiency in edible oil.
A recent global report, the 'State of Food and Nutrition in the World' (SOFI) 2025, revealed that hunger affected approximately 720 million people worldwide in 2024, with Asia accounting for the largest number of undernourished individuals.
In sports, the India Champions team has declined to participate in the World Championship of Legends semifinal against Pakistan, reiterating their stance against engaging in competitive fixtures with their arch-rivals, particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, India has received an invitation to join the Central Asian Football Association's (CAFA) Nations Cup next month, indicating growing engagement in regional football.