1 Cabinet approves Rs 1,500 crore Critical Minerals Recycling Scheme
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a Rs 1,500 crore recycling incentive scheme . The scheme aims to increase the recycling capacity of critical minerals in the country and strengthen the supply chain . The initiative will be run under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), while it will be implemented over a period of six years from FY 2025–26 to 2030–31. The scheme covers recycling of old materials such as e-waste, lithium-ion battery (LIB) scrap and catalytic converters. The scheme will benefit large industrialists as well as small businessmen and start-ups. The special thing is that one-third of the total budget has been reserved for small players. Two major incentives will be given under this scheme. First, 20% capital subsidy on plant and machinery will be given to those units which start production within the stipulated time. Second, operating subsidy will be given on sales above the base year of 2025-26, which will be up to 40% in the second year and 60% in the fifth year. The maximum limit of incentive has been kept at Rs 50 crore for large industries and Rs 25 crore for small industries. At the same time, the limit of operating subsidy has been fixed at Rs 10 crore and Rs 5 crore respectively.
2 GST Council announces next generation Goods and Services Tax reforms
The GST Council has approved rationalization of GST rates by reforming them for the common man, labour-intensive industries, farmers and agriculture, health and economy. Briefing the media in New Delhi yesterday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on items used by the common man and the middle class has been reduced from 18 and 12 per cent to 5 per cent . She informed that the GST Council has approved exemption from GST on individual life insurance policies and individual health insurance policies including family floater and policies for senior citizens. All these changes will come into effect from the first day of Navratri, 22nd of this month. Ms Sitharaman said that the move is aimed at making insurance affordable for the common man and increasing insurance reach in the country. The Finance Minister has also reduced GST from 12 per cent to zero on 33 life saving drugs and medicines and from 5 per cent to zero on three life saving drugs used in the treatment of cancer and rare diseases and other critical illnesses. GST on all other drugs and medicines has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. GST on various medical instruments used for medical, surgical, dental, veterinary and physical and chemical analysis has also been reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. Rationalising the indirect tax structure, the Council has reduced the present four slabs to two by eliminating the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates while retaining the 5 per cent and 18 per cent slabs.
3 APEDA launches ‘Bharati’ initiative, agri-food export will get a new dimension
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched its new initiative ‘ BHARATI ‘ at the ‘ Food and Beverage Sector Stakeholders Meet ‘ chaired by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan were also present on the occasion. ‘BHARATI’ ( India’s Incubation Centre for Agricultural Technology, Resilience, Advancement and Export Enablement ) aims to empower 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups , promote innovation and achieve the agri-food export target of $50 billion by 2030. The first pilot cohort starting from September 2025 will support high-value agri-food producers, technology-driven service providers and innovators.
4 Union Textiles Minister Shri Giriraj Singh launched the Cotton Corporation of India app to streamline the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in cotton procurement
Union Textiles Minister Shri Giriraj Singh today launched the new mobile application, Kapas Kisan App , developed by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), Ministry of Textiles , to facilitate seamless procurement of cotton from farmers under Minimum Support Price ( MSP ). The new mobile app helps farmers for self-registration, slot booking and payment status tracking. The app will also provide payment information to farmers – bringing greater speed, transparency and ease in the cotton procurement process.
5 Operation Black Forest
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah met and felicitated the CRPF, Chhattisgarh Police, DRG and Cobra jawans who successfully carried out ‘ Operation Black Forest ‘ on Karreguttalu hill in New Delhi. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma were also present on the occasion. The Union Home and Cooperation Minister heartily congratulated the jawans of all the security forces for making the operation successful by displaying valour in the biggest anti-Naxal operation ‘Operation Black Forest’ ever conducted on Karreguttalu hill.
6 Historic ropeway construction agreement signed in Uttarakhand
A significant step towards transport and infrastructure development in the state of Uttarakhand was taken in the presence of Hon’ble Shri Ajay Tamta Ji , Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami Ji , Cabinet Minister Shri Satpal Maharaj Ji , senior officials of NHAI and NHLML. On this occasion, a historic agreement was signed between the Government of Uttarakhand and National Highways Logistics & Construction Limited (NHLML) under the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) . The agreement aims to set up the country’s largest ropeway project in Uttarakhand at an estimated cost of about Rs. 7000 crore . Immediately after the agreement, an SPV will be formed, in which the Central Government will have 51% stake and the Government of Uttarakhand will have 49% stake . This SPV will monitor all aspects of ropeway projects in the state. Several major ropeway projects will be launched under this initiative, including:
- Kedarnath Ropeway : 12.9 km long project from Sonprayag to Kedarnath , estimated to cost ₹4,081.28 crore.
- Hemkund Sahib Ropeway : 12.4 km long project from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib , estimated to cost ₹2,730.13 crore.
- Nainital Ropeway : Project to promote local tourism and connectivity.
7 Government issued guidelines to link Anganwadi centres with schools
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi released the Guidelines for Co-location of Anganwadi Centres with Schools at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi . Shri Pradhan said that this move will ensure complete care of every mother and child and strengthen the foundation of education in line with the National Education Policy 2020. The Minister also announced that within three years, about 2 lakh schools across India will be connected with broadband, thereby promoting digital education. Shri Pradhan also highlighted community participation and integration of initiatives like Nipun Bharat and Poshan Bhi Padhayi Bhi. Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education in collaboration with Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched “ Guidelines for Co-location of Anganwadi Centres with Schools ” with the following objectives:
- Ensuring school readiness and smooth transition of children from Anganwadi Centres to Class 1 in primary schools.
- To establish better linkages and convergence between Anganwadi Centres and Primary Schools to provide joyful learning experience and stimulating environment for holistic development of children.
- To ensure increased retention rate of children at the primary level to achieve higher achievement at various levels of learning.
8 Sharjah to host ’18th World Congress on Inclusion’ in 2025
Sharjah will host the 18th edition of Inclusion International ’s World Congress 2025 from 15 to 17 September at its Expo Centre . The event, being held for the first time in the MENA region , will see participants from over 70 countries discuss inclusive education, systemic reform, advocacy, healthcare, legal rights, employment and community participation. The conference will highlight the role of research and innovation in building equitable societies and comes in line with the UAE’s efforts to strengthen social and professional inclusion for persons with disabilities. Inclusion initiatives have led to the establishment of over 80 specialised public and private facilities providing education, training and rehabilitation across the UAE.
9 China displays advanced military technology in Beijing parade
Victory Day parade was celebrated in China on Wednesday to mark 80 years of Japan’s defeat in the Second World War . President Xi Jinping took the salute of the parade at the Tiananmen Square in the capital Beijing . A military parade was held after Jinping’s speech. The parade included hypersonic glide vehicles, YJ-21 anti-ship cruise missile and JL-3 submarine -launched ballistic missile. The advanced version 6F of the DF-5C nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile was also displayed. This missile can hit America. Torpedo-shaped HSU100 and AJX002 have been included in China’s drone fleet, which means they are probably unmanned long-range underwater strike drones .
10 World Junior champion Pranav Venkatesh wins Fujairah Global Superstars title
World junior champion Pranav Venkatesh defeated Grandmaster Alan Pichot of Spain to win the Fujairah Global Superstars chess tournament in the United Arab Emirates . Pranav scored seven out of a possible nine points to finish one point ahead of his nearest rivals, Brandon Jacobson of the USA, Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara of Mexico and Amin Tabatabaei of Iran, who all finished tied for second with six points each. Despite needing only a draw to clinch the top prize, Pranav played aggressively with the white pieces and won his final game with 7/9 points.
11 World Boxing Championships 2025 begins in Liverpool; India fields 20-member team
The World Boxing Championships, 2025 , will kick off in Liverpool, England . India will field a 20-member strong squad in the inaugural edition of the championship . Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain will return to the international arena after a gap of more than a year. Along with the experienced Pooja Rani, a two-time Asian champion who won a silver medal at the July World Cup, the trio form the experienced core of the women’s team. With this squad of new faces, it will be a challenging time for the Indian men’s boxing team. The experienced group is led by Sumit Kundu, who is making a comeback to the team after injury, along with 2021 world youth champion Sachin Siwach and Harsh Chaudhary, all of whom have had World Championships experience before.