National Security and Defence Advancements:
India's defence capabilities received a significant boost with the successful test-firing of the nuclear-capable Prithvi-II and Agni-I ballistic missiles on July 17, 2025. These tests, conducted by the Strategic Forces Command at Chandipur, Odisha, validated all operational and technical parameters of the indigenously developed short-range missiles, reinforcing India's deterrence capability. In a notable maritime achievement, India's first indigenously built Diving Support Vessel, Nistar, was commissioned on Friday, July 18, 2025, in Visakhapatnam. Additionally, the advanced Akash Prime surface-to-air missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), continues to enhance India's air defence capabilities.
Economic Growth and Policy Initiatives:
India's economy is showing robust signs of entering a "Goldilocks" phase, characterized by moderate, sustainable growth and subdued inflation. Retail inflation in June 2025 fell to 2.1%, well below the RBI's earlier projections, prompting considerations for further interest rate cuts. India is projected to remain the fastest-growing economy globally, with real GDP growth forecasted at 5.9% in 2025 and 6.4% in 2026, and is expected to become the world's third-largest economy by 2028. In a move to boost agriculture, the Cabinet approved the 'PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' with a ₹24,000 crore outlay for 100 under-performing districts. Furthermore, the Central Government is reportedly set to approve a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for over 1 crore central employees and pensioners, raising the total DA to 58% from July 2025, though an official notification is awaited.
International Relations and Diplomatic Engagements:
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged in significant diplomatic meetings during his visit to China on July 14-15, 2025, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting. Discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding India-China relations, focusing on border peace, trade measures, and people-to-people exchanges. India also welcomed the US listing of The Resistance Front as a global terrorist outfit, reiterating its "zero tolerance towards terrorism." Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Russia and India reached a record US$70.6 billion in 2024, marking a 9.2% increase, driven by agricultural products and strategic partnership. India continues to balance its participation in groupings like BRICS with engagement with Western alliances such as the Quad, demonstrating the agility of its foreign policy.
Social Development and Governance:
In the latest Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings, Vijayawada secured the 4th position nationally, recognized as a 'Super Swachh League City,' while Bengaluru improved its rank from 125 to 36 in the Million-Plus Cities category. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers of deceased citizens as part of efforts to clean the national database. The Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs launched a skill training and women entrepreneurship development project under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS) scheme to train 450 candidates from minority communities.
Science and Education Highlights:
Indian students showcased their excellence by securing two gold and two silver medals at the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2025, held in Dubai, UAE, with India ranking 6th globally among 90 countries. Furthermore, IIT Madras launched 'YD One', India's lightest active wheelchair and the country's first precision-built mono-tube rigid-frame design, aiming to provide affordable and high-performance mobility.