03rd August 2025

1. Rajit Punhani Appointed CEO of FSSAI
2. Tata Electronics, Merck Team Up for Semiconductor Growth
3. Morgan Stanley Ups India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.7% for FY26
4. New Delhi to Host 2026 Badminton World Championships
5. Gangtok Ranked 5th Safest City for Women in India
6. Deepak Mittal Appointed India’s New Envoy to UAE
7. Coconut Development Board Announces Boosts Aid for Coconut Farmers
8. India Offers 1,000 E-Scholarships to Afghan Students for 2025–26
9. Vikram‑3201: India’s First Made‑in‑Bharat 32‑Bit Microprocessor
10. Skyscraper Day 2025
11. India’s Current Account Deficit at $2.4 Billion in Q1 FY26
12. Starc Retires from T20Is to Focus on Tests & ODIs
13. Tiny Computer to Aid India’s Hunt for Cosmic Dawn Signals
14. China Pledges $2 Billion and AI Support at SCO Summit
15. Indian Railways and SBI Sign MoU to Enhance Insurance Coverage
16. DoP Signs MoU with ESRI India, Enhancing DIGIPIN Initiative
17. BEL Secures Orders Worth Rs.644 Crores to Boost India’s Defence Capabilities
18. AISATS Becomes India’s First Ground Handling Company to Secure Safety Clearance from DGCA
19. Union MoS Prataparap Jadhav Presides over BRICS CCI Healthcare Summit 2025 in New Delhi, Delhi
20. ADB Approves USD 125 million Loan to Boost Urban Services and Climate Resilience in Assam
21. Suryoday SFB Launches FD-backed Credit Cards
22. CRISIL Maintains India’s GDP Forecast at 6.5% for the Financial Year 2025-26
23. BWF World Championships 2025 Held in Paris, France
24. AP Govt Signs MoU with Tech Bharat Foundation for India’s First AI CoE in Visakhapatnam
25. PhonePe, DSP Finance launch loans against mutual funds up to Rs 2 crore

National News

1. India Announces 1,000 E-Scholarships for Afghan Nationals

• What:
  • India has announced 1,000 e-scholarships for Afghan students under the Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals (SSSAN) for the academic year 2025-26.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to support Afghan youth in accessing higher education and building skills for peace and prosperity.
• Tell me more:
  • The scholarships are offered through the e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn portal managed by ICCR.
  • Afghan nationals aged 18 to 35 years can apply for online courses at nine Indian universities, including Jamia Millia Islamia, IGNOU, Anna University, and Kurukshetra University.
  • Courses include Business Administration, Commerce, Computer Science, Arts, Political Science, Education, Journalism, Psychology, and Mass Communication.
  • Applications are open from September 1 to September 6, 2025, through the Afghan i-learn portal.

Source: ET

2. India Unveils First Indigenous 32-bit Microprocessor Chip

• What:
  • Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented India’s first “Made in India” chip, the Vikram 32-bit processor, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Semicon India 2025 in Delhi.
• Why:
  • The Vikram chip is an advanced version of the earlier 16-bit VIKRAM1601, used in ISRO’s launch vehicles since 2009.
• Tell me more:
  • The Vikram chip was developed by ISRO’s Semiconductor Lab in Chandigarh with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
  • Officially named VIKRAM3201, it is India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor and has been validated in space during PSLV-C60 in 2024.
  • Five semiconductor units are under construction, while 10 projects worth $18 billion are underway across six states.
  • PM Modi announced that the Design-Linked Incentive scheme is being revamped to capture a share of the $1 trillion global chip market.

Source: TOI

State News

1. Gangtok Ranked 5th Safest City for Women in India

• What:
  • Gangtok has been ranked the 5th safest city for women in India in the NARI 2025 report released by the National Commission for Women (NCW).
• Why:
  • The ranking highlights women’s safety levels across Indian cities and sets benchmarks for improvement.
• Tell me more:
  • Gangtok secured a safety score of 70.4%, higher than the national benchmark of 65%.
  • The NARI 2025 report surveyed 12,770 women in 31 cities based on infrastructure, harassment reporting, workplace safety, trust in authorities, and day-night safety perceptions.
  • Kohima ranked 1st, Visakhapatnam 2nd, Bhubaneswar 3rd, and Aizawl 4th, with Gangtok at 5th place.

Source: NOA

2. ADB Approves $125 Million Loan for Assam Urban Project

• What:
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $125 million loan for the Assam Urban Sector Development Project to improve urban services and climate resilience.
• Why:
  • The project aims to provide better water supply, upgrade stormwater systems, and strengthen urban governance for sustainable development.
• Tell me more:
  • The project will benefit around 360,000 residents with continuous metered water supply and improved drainage.
  • Six new water treatment plants with 72 million liters per day capacity and 800 km of pipelines will be built in Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, and Nalbari.
  • In Guwahati, the Bahini Basin will get flood diversion channels, upgraded drainage, and a nature-based retention pond to reduce floods and recharge groundwater.
  • The project also includes creation of the Assam State Institute for Urban Development with IIT Guwahati, along with GIS-based property tax, digital billing, and volumetric water tariffs.

Source: ADB

3. Andhra Pradesh to Set Up AI Center of Excellence

• What:
  • The Andhra Pradesh Government signed an MoU with Tech Bharat Foundation to establish an AI Center of Excellence (CoE) in Visakhapatnam for advancing AI for Public Good.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to institutionalize AI in governance, boost innovation, develop talent, and build deployable solutions for better government-to-citizen services.
• Tell me more:
  • The CoE will create AI tools for governance, conduct proof-of-concepts, and support policy research and capacity building.
  • A 120-day AI Fellowship Program will start in September 2025, offering fellows Rs. 25,000 monthly stipend and residential support.

Source: BS

International News

1. China Announces New Initiatives for SCO Member States

• What:
  • China announced a set of projects, grants, loans, and education opportunities for SCO member states at the 2025 SCO Summit.
• Why:
  • The initiatives aim to deepen cooperation, improve livelihood, support talent development, and promote technological and economic collaboration among SCO members.
• Tell me more:
  • China will implement 100 small livelihood projects, provide RMB 2 billion in grants within this year, and offer RMB 10 billion in loans through the SCO Interbank Consortium over three years.
  • From next year, SCO-specific scholarships will double, and an SCO Innovative PhD programme will be launched.
  • In the next five years, 10 Luban Workshops will be built and 10,000 training opportunities provided in SCO nations.
  • India, along with other members, joined the roadmap for cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI), pledging safe, fair, and transparent AI development.

Source: DD

2. BRICS CCI Healthcare Summit 2025 Held in New Delhi

• What:
  • Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav presided over the BRICS CCI Healthcare Summit 2025 in New Delhi on the theme “Bridging Tradition and Innovation.”
• Why:
  • The summit aimed to promote inclusive and sustainable growth by blending traditional medicine with modern healthcare innovations.
• Tell me more:
  • BRICS represents nearly half of the world’s population, one-third of global GDP, and one-fifth of global trade.
  • India has developed a strong Ayush ecosystem with over 1,000 Ayush colleges, including 500 Ayurveda institutions, supported by research and regulations.
  • Global acceptance of Ayush is growing, with Ayurveda practitioners in Brazil, its inclusion in Russia’s healthcare framework, and progress of traditional medicine in China.
  • The summit emphasized public–private partnerships, digital health, nutraceutical research, and support for entrepreneurs and farmers.

Source: PIB

Banking and Economy

1. India Records Current Account Deficit in Q1 FY 2025-26

• India’s current account slipped into a deficit of $2.4 billion, or 0.2% of GDP, in April–June quarter of FY 2025-26 due to a wider merchandise trade gap.
• The current account had a surplus of $13.5 billion, or 1.3% of GDP, in the previous quarter.
• The Reserve Bank of India released this data through its official statement.

Source: ET

2. DGCA Grants First Safety Clearance to AISATS

• What:
  • DGCA has granted safety clearance to Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS), making it the first ground handling company in India to receive the approval.
• Why:
  • The clearance aims to strengthen Safety Management Systems (SMS) and enhance regulatory oversight in ground handling operations.
• Tell me more:
  • The safety approval framework for ground handling firms was introduced by DGCA in July.
  • India is the second country after Malaysia in the Asia-Pacific region to implement this framework in alignment with ICAO guidance.
  • AISATS received clearance after a detailed evaluation of its SMS, risk controls, reporting systems, training, and infrastructure.
  • The clearance has been issued under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 4, Series X, Part II.

Source: ET

3. Suryoday Small Finance Bank Launches Secured Credit Cards

• What:
  • Suryoday Small Finance Bank has launched secured credit cards using fixed deposits as collateral under the RuPay Select and RuPay Platinum variants.
• Why:
  • The cards aim to improve credit access for customers like first-time users, homemakers, and retirees while promoting responsible credit habits.
• Tell me more:
  • The cards are linked with RuPay and UPI platforms and issued instantly in virtual form.
  • They give 0.5% cashback on all transactions, capped at ₹3,000 per billing cycle, with no annual or hidden charges.
  • The FD requirement starts at ₹1,000 for the Platinum card and ₹1,11,500 for the Select card.
  • Cardholders can pay at least 10% of the due balance or clear the full amount within 30 days to avoid interest.

Source: BT

4. PhonePe Launches Loans Against Mutual Funds Product

• What:
  • PhonePe, in partnership with DSP Finance, has launched a Loans against Mutual Funds (LAMF) product offering credit up to ₹2 crore.
• Why:
  • The product is designed to give users instant liquidity from their mutual fund investments without affecting long-term wealth creation.
• Tell me more:
  • PhonePe has over 640 million registered users and 45 million registered merchants.
  • DSP Finance is a non-banking financial company backed by DSP Group.

Source: BS

GDP Forecasts

1. Morgan Stanley Raises India’s GDP Growth Forecast

• What:
  • Morgan Stanley increased India’s GDP growth forecast for 2025-26 to 6.7% from its earlier 6.2%.
• Why:
  • The revision was made due to strong April-June quarter growth and expectations that GST cuts will boost domestic demand.
• Tell me more:
  • India recorded 7.8% GDP growth in the April-June quarter of this year.
  • Government consumption rose by 7.5% and private consumption by 7% year-on-year in the same period.
  • Gross fixed capital formation slowed to 7.8% but remained strong, while government spending was front-loaded to aid investment.

Source: DD

2. Crisil Maintains India’s GDP Growth Forecast at 6.5%

• What:
  • Crisil has maintained India’s GDP growth forecast for FY 2025-26 at 6.5% despite risks from US tariffs and slowing global growth.
• Why:
  • The forecast highlights confidence in domestic consumption as the main growth driver, even amid export challenges and global slowdown.
• Tell me more:
  • India’s economy grew 6.5% in FY 2024-25 and is estimated to have grown 7.8% in April–June 2025-26, with nominal GDP growth at 8.8%.
  • Global growth is projected to slow to 2.9% in 2025 from 3.3% in 2024, adding external pressure.
  • Government has kept its GDP growth forecast at 6.3%–6.8% for FY 2025-26.

Source: ET

Defence News

1. Bharat Electronics Secures Orders Worth Rs 644 Crore

• What:
  • Bharat Electronics (BEL) has received additional orders worth Rs 644 crore since its last disclosure on 30th July 2025.
• Why:
  • The new orders will support BEL in strengthening its role as a key defence electronics manufacturer for the armed forces.
• Tell me more:
  • The fresh orders include items such as a data centre, ship fire control system, tank navigation system, communication equipment, seekers, jammers, simulators, electronic voting machines, upgrades, spares, and services.
  • BEL is a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Defence.
  • The Government of India holds 51.14% stake in BEL as of 30 June 2025.

Source: BS

Science and Technology

1. PRATUSH to Study the Universe’s First Stars

• What:
  • Raman Research Institute has developed PRATUSH, a proposed space payload using a small single-board computer to study the Cosmic Dawn, when the first stars and galaxies formed.
• Why:
  • The mission aims to detect faint hydrogen signals from the early universe and understand how the first stars shaped its evolution.
• Tell me more:
  • PRATUSH stands for Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen.
  • PRATUSH is a radiometer designed for a future lunar orbit mission, as the moon’s far side is the quietest place free from Earth’s radio interference.
  • A lab model has already been built and tested, showing very low noise levels, making it sensitive enough to detect the Cosmic Dawn signal.
  • The system uses an antenna, analog receiver, digital receiver, and FPGA chip, managed by a compact single-board computer built around Raspberry Pi.

Source: PIB

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. Coconut Development Board Launches Revamped Farmer Schemes

• What:
  • The Coconut Development Board (CDB) launched a restructured package of schemes to empower farmers, boost productivity, and strengthen India’s coconut economy.
• Why:
  • The schemes were redesigned to tackle challenges like climate change, pest and disease attacks, labour shortages, and price fluctuations.
• Tell me more:
  • The package covers planting material, cultivation expansion, productivity improvement, technology transfer, value addition, and market development.
  • Demonstration-cum-Seed Production farms will be upgraded, and new farms of 20-40 hectares developed with state support; financial aid of up to Rs 30 lakh will be given for farm development.
  • Farmers planting or expanding coconut gardens will get Rs 56,000 per hectare, with special norms for non-traditional states; nurseries will also receive graded assistance.
  • The CDB Institute of Technology at Aluva has been upgraded into an innovation hub with advanced testing and pilot processing facilities for value-added coconut products.

Source: UNI

Important Days

1. Skyscraper Day 2025 – September 3

• It celebrates these towering wonders of architecture and engineering.

Source: NDTV

Sports

1. New Delhi to Host BWF World Championships 2026

• What:
  • The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed that New Delhi will host the BWF World Championships in August 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • This will be India’s second time hosting the Championships after Hyderabad in 2009.
  • The event will return to Asia after eight years, with the last one held in Nanjing, China in 2018.
  • India was awarded the 2026 edition in 2021, and New Delhi has now been confirmed as the venue.

Source: OC

2. Mitchell Starc Retires from T20 International Cricket

• Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has retired from T20 International cricket to focus on Tests and ODIs.
• He is Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is, behind Adam Zampa.
• Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg supported the move, saying it opens opportunities for new bowlers.

Source: TOI

3. Yamaguchi Akane Wins Third BWF World Championship Title

• What:
  • Japan’s Yamaguchi Akane won her third BWF World Championships crown after defeating Olympic champion Chen Yufei in Paris.
• Tell me more:
  • Yamaguchi previously won world titles in 2021 and 2022, becoming the second woman after Carolina Marin to win three global crowns.
  • Malaysia’s Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei created history by winning their nation’s first mixed doubles world title.

Source: OC

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Tata Electronics and Merck Sign MoU for Semiconductor Growth

• What:
  • Tata Electronics and Merck have signed an MoU to collaborate in semiconductor materials, fabrication infrastructure, and specialty chemical and gas distribution in India.
• Why:
  • The collaboration supports the India Semiconductor Mission by building indigenous semiconductor capabilities and strengthening India’s role in the global value chain.
• Tell me more:
  • Tata Electronics is setting up India’s first semiconductor Fab in Dholera, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs 91,000 crores (USD 11 billion).
  • Merck will provide high-purity electronic materials, advanced delivery systems, fab infrastructure services, and Material Intelligence solutions powered by AI.

Source: ET

2. Indian Railways Signs MoU with SBI for Insurance Benefits

• What:
  • Indian Railways and SBI signed an MoU to enhance insurance benefits for railway employees holding salary accounts with SBI.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to provide better financial security and higher insurance coverage to railway employees.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and SBI Chairman C.S. Setty.
  • Accidental death insurance has been raised to ₹1 crore for employees with SBI salary accounts.
  • Earlier coverage was ₹1.2 lakh for Group A, ₹60,000 for Group B, and ₹30,000 for Group C employees under the Central Government Employees’ Group Insurance Scheme.
  • Employees with only a salary account in SBI will now also get ₹10 lakh natural death insurance coverage without paying any premium.
  • Natural death coverage of ₹10 lakh is provided at zero cost to eligible employees.

Source: NOA

3. Department of Posts Signs MoU with ESRI India for DIGIPIN

• What:
  • The Department of Posts signed an MoU with ESRI India Technologies to use GIS-based solutions for strengthening the DIGIPIN portal.
• Why:
  • The partnership aims to make DIGIPIN more robust, accurate, and citizen-friendly by using advanced mapping technology.
• Tell me more:
  • DoP will use ESRI India’s high-resolution imagery and street basemaps for DIGIPIN.
  • DIGIPIN will be integrated with ESRI India’s Living Atlas portal, increasing accessibility to the GIS community.
  • ESRI India will provide technical support for smooth integration with DIGIPIN services.
  • The MoU was signed at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, by representatives of DoP and ESRI India.

Source: PIB

Appointments

1. Rajit Punhani Becomes New CEO of FSSAI

• What:
  • Rajit Punhani has taken charge as the Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Tell me more:
  • Earlier, he served as Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and also as Secretary in the Rajya Sabha.
  • He was the CEO of Sansad TV and Principal Secretary in the Government of Bihar.
  • FSSAI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Source: ET

2. Dr. Deepak Mittal Appointed India’s New Ambassador to UAE

• What:
  • The Ministry of External Affairs has appointed Dr. Deepak Mittal as India’s next Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
• Why:
  • He has been appointed to succeed Sunjay Sudhir, the current Ambassador, who will retire in September.
  • The UAE and India established diplomatic ties in 1972.
  • The UAE is one of India’s closest strategic partners, a key energy supplier, and hosts over 3.5 million Indians.
  • In February 2024, PM Modi inaugurated the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, marking his seventh UAE visit in nine years, including attendance at COP-28 in December 2023.

Source: NOA

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