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Sanjay Kaul, a 2001-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, was appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) in Gandhinagar on July 15, 2025. He will serve on deputation for three years, replacing Tapan Ray. Kaul brings extensive administrative experience, including previous roles in Gujarat, where he led the Tourism Corporation and Gujarat Informatics Ltd. Prior to this, he was serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture. As CEO of GIFT City, Kaul will oversee one of India’s most ambitious smart city projects aimed at becoming a global financial services hub.

Karnataka Bank faced a major leadership change when both its Managing Director & CEO, Srikrishnan Hari Hara Sarma, and Executive Director, Sekhar Rao, submitted their resignations citing personal reasons. Sarma plans to relocate to Mumbai, while Rao is unable to move to Mangaluru, the bank's headquarters. These resignations, effective from July 2025, come during the bank’s strategic transformation efforts aimed at digitization and operational modernization. In response, a search committee has been formed to identify new leadership, and a Chief Operating Officer will temporarily oversee operations. The development underscores the importance of succession planning in sustaining institutional momentum and investor confidence.

Indian Oil Corporation is set to begin sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in December 2025 at its Panipat refinery with a planned annual capacity of 35,000 tonnes. The initiative is designed to support India’s international airline SAF blending targets by 2027, helping reduce the aviation sector’s carbon footprint. Notably, the project will use used cooking oil as a feedstock, aligning with global sustainability practices. Indian Oil has also secured ISCC CORSIA certification, ensuring compliance with international carbon reduction and sustainability standards. This development highlights India’s commitment to green energy and its role in advancing cleaner aviation fuels.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out the maiden test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast. This advanced system integrates multiple cutting-edge defence technologies, including the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), and a laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW). The system is centrally managed through a Command & Control Centre developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). Additionally, VSHORADS and DEW were developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), marking a significant step in strengthening India’s air defence capabilities.

INS Nistar is India’s first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), commissioned by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam. Constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, the vessel significantly enhances India’s underwater capabilities, including saturation diving and submarine rescue features possessed by only a few navies worldwide. With advanced systems like Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and a Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Life Boat, INS Nistar is built for operations up to 300 metres deep. It supports the Indian Navy’s strategic objective of maritime self-reliance and aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, positioning India as a key submarine rescue partner in the region.

Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair has taken over as the Controller Personnel Services of the Indian Navy. He brings a wealth of experience, particularly in Communications and Electronic Warfare, and has commanded key naval assets such as INS Vikramaditya. He played a leading role in Operation Sankalp and contributed to the drafting of strategic policy documents like MCPP and MIPP. His distinguished service has been recognised with prestigious awards such as the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Nau Sena Medal (NM). He has also served as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, reinforcing his deep involvement in naval leadership and training.

Assam Rifles entered into a collaboration with IIIT Manipur to promote drone technology specifically for defence and security applications. This partnership involved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at Mantripukhri and the launch of an Advanced Drone Training and Refresher Course. The program was designed to equip Assam Rifles personnel with skills in drone flight operations, proper maintenance, and DGCA-certified training. Such collaborations highlight the growing importance of academic–defence partnerships in advancing indigenous technological capabilities, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring that security forces remain well-trained in modern surveillance and defence tools.

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) partnered with the Maharashtra Water Resources Department through an MoU to restore the Ujani reservoir wetland. Located on the Bhima river in western Maharashtra, this man made wetland at Bhigwan is an important ecological zone. It has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) under the Central Asian Flyway, serving as a crucial habitat for migratory birds. Apart from ecological importance, the wetland also plays a vital role in supporting agriculture, hydropower generation, drinking water supply, and fisheries in the region, making its restoration a priority for sustainable development.

World Lake Day is observed annually on August 27 to highlight the importance of conserving and sustainably managing lakes, which are crucial freshwater ecosystems. Lakes provide drinking water, support agriculture and industry, and are home to diverse species that sustain ecological balance. They also play a vital role in regulating climate, acting as carbon sinks, and mitigating extreme weather impacts. Economically, they support fisheries, tourism, and livelihoods. However, lakes worldwide face threats from pollution, climate change, and unsustainable practices. By designating August 27 as World Lake Day, the UN encourages global awareness, cooperation, and restoration efforts to protect these vital ecosystems.

The Super Garuda Shield is a major military exercise jointly conducted by the United States and Indonesia. It originated in 2007 as a bilateral drill between the two nations’ armies and later expanded into a multinational exercise in 2022, involving numerous Indo-Pacific allies such as Japan, Australia, Singapore, and several others. The 2025 edition is described as the largest ever, highlighting Indonesia’s central role in organizing and hosting the exercise alongside the U.S. This collaboration demonstrates Indonesia’s strategic significance in regional security and its growing involvement in multinational defence cooperation.

India has been selected by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) to host two prestigious shooting events—the Shooting World Cup in 2027 and the World Junior Championship in 2028. This decision was announced by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on July 10, 2025. The move underscores India's growing influence in global shooting sports and is expected to provide invaluable exposure to both junior and senior Indian shooters. Alongside these events, India is also set to launch the Shooting League of India in November 2025. These initiatives aim to elevate the sport's profile nationally and enhance competitive standards.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has partnered with the Department of School Education to link the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) status of Aadhaar-linked school children with the UDISE+ system. UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) is a critical database managed by the Department of School Education & Literacy under the Ministry of Education. By integrating MBU status, the collaboration ensures better monitoring of children’s biometric updates and helps maintain more accurate educational records. This initiative strengthens the linkage between Aadhaar and educational data, ultimately improving governance, efficiency, and accountability in the school system.

The Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 was inaugurated by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on July 12, 2025, in New Delhi. The event, themed “Scientific Excellence for Seamless Trade,” focused on enhancing India's trade mechanisms through improved testing and compliance systems. It was organised by the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The choice of New Delhi as the venue underscores its status as a hub for major government-led initiatives and international conferences, especially those related to finance and trade development.

India’s first Animal Stem Cell BioBank was inaugurated at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) in Hyderabad by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. This advanced facility, spanning 9,300 sq ft and costing ₹1.85 crore, is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure such as stem cell culture units, 3D bioprinting, bacterial culture labs, cryostorage, and high biosafety standards. It is designed to revolutionise animal health, regenerative medicine, and agricultural productivity through research in disease modelling, reproductive biotechnology, and tissue regeneration. The inauguration also included the launch of five breakthrough veterinary technologies aimed at improving livestock health and combating antimicrobial resistance.

Shubman Gill etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first Indian and Asian Test captain to score a double hundred in England, achieving the feat at Edgbaston. This remarkable performance also saw him break the record for the highest individual score by an Indian on English soil, previously held by Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 221 runs at the Oval in 1979. Gill's double century not only surpassed Gavaskar's record but also went beyond the 193-run mark set by Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan at Lord’s in 2011, making it a historic moment for Asian cricket.

On July 31, 2025, the Telangana High Court enhanced its judicial strength by appointing four new Additional Judges: Gouse Meera Mohiuddin, Chalapathi Rao Suddala, Gadi Praveen Kumar, and Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh in a formal ceremony. These appointments followed the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation and the Central Government's subsequent approval. With this addition, the working strength of the Telangana High Court has risen to 30 judges, though 12 vacancies remain. The move aims to alleviate case backlogs, speed up judicial processes, and ensure the fair and timely delivery of justice in the state.

The Banni Grasslands, located in Gujarat near the Great Rann of Kutch, are Asia’s largest grassland ecosystem and have been selected as a potential site for cheetah reintroduction under Project Cheetah. These grasslands offer an ideal habitat due to their resemblance to African savannahs, including vast open spaces and a mix of grasslands and scrublands. The Gujarat Forest Department has prepared a 600-hectare enclosure, bolstered the herbivore population, and developed key infrastructure to support the reintroduction effort. This initiative aims to restore cheetahs—declared extinct in India in 1952—and revive ecological balance while also supporting regional biodiversity conservation.

On July 10, 2025, Uttarakhand launched 'Operation Kalanemi' under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The initiative aims to identify and take strict legal action against individuals impersonating saints to deceive people, especially targeting innocent devotees. The operation derives its name from Kalanemi, a demon in Hindu mythology who misled people by appearing saintly. Given Uttarakhand's spiritual significance with destinations like Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Kedarnath, the move is seen as a serious step to protect religious integrity and social harmony while preventing misuse of faith for personal or financial gain.

Kerala is facing a serious threat to its rubber plantations due to an infestation of the ambrosia beetle (Euplatypus parallelus), an invasive pest originally from Central and South America. These beetles introduce harmful fungi, including Fusarium ambrosia and Fusarium solani, into the trees, disrupting water flow and reducing latex output. The mutualistic relationship between the beetles and fungi causes extensive internal damage to the trees, making recovery nearly impossible. As rubber farming is vital to Kerala's economy, the infestation poses a significant agricultural and financial risk. The situation calls for targeted, region-specific management strategies and early detection systems.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) entered into a five-year partnership with the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) to strengthen Aadhaar’s robustness, security, and reliability. The collaboration will focus on critical areas such as fraud and anomaly detection, development of biometric liveness detection tools, and refining biometric matching algorithms. This initiative is crucial for protecting Aadhaar from potential misuse while ensuring its efficient functioning as the backbone of India’s digital identity ecosystem. By involving ISI, a premier institute with expertise in advanced data science and statistical methods, UIDAI aims to bring cutting-edge research into national identity management.