ISRO successfully tests Gaganyaan propulsion system

1 ISRO successfully tests Gaganyaan propulsion system

ISRO  on July 3  conducted two successful tests  of  the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS)  at  its  Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri   . These short duration tests lasted for  30 seconds and 100 seconds respectively  . ISRO said these were aimed at validating the configuration of the test article. The overall performance of the propulsion system during the test was normal as per pre-test predictions. During the 100-second test, concurrent operation of all Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters in various modes and all Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines was successfully demonstrated. ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) is leading the technology development activities for Gaganyaan SMPS, the space agency said. The SMPS is a critical system of the Gaganyaan orbital module and is required during orbital maneuvering as well as specific abort scenarios.

2 Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurates VTU-VRIF-TCOE Hub and Spoke Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru

Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)  Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia  inaugurated  the  VTU-VRIF-TCoE Hub  and  Spoke Centre of Excellence   in  Bengaluru . This Centre of Excellence (CoE) is a strategic partnership between Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) ,  Visvesvaraya Research and Innovation Foundation (VRIF)  and  Telecommunication Centre of Excellence (TCoE)  India. The collaboration aims to establish a cutting-edge innovation ecosystem focusing on emerging areas including 5G/6G communications, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), quantum computing, healthcare and other frontier technologies.

3 Amit Shah chaired the 27th Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi, Jharkhand

Union Home and Cooperation Minister  Amit Shah  chaired  the  27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council  held in  Ranchi, Jharkhand on   10 July 2025.  This meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council is taking place after two years  . The 26th Eastern Zonal Council meeting was held in Patna, Bihar on 10 December 2023. The Zonal Council is a forum where the Centre and the States/Union Territories of a particular region of the country discuss issues of common interest and attempt to resolve disputes among the members of the Zonal Council. Around 20 issues were discussed in the Ranchi meeting. The Eastern Zonal Council comprises the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal.  Five Zonal Councils have been established in the country under the provisions of  the States Reorganisation Act 1956.   The country was divided into five regions – Eastern, Western, Northern, Central and Southern regions.  Later ,  a separate North Eastern Council  was established for the North Eastern States  under  the North Eastern Council Act, 1971 .

4 Centre approves Rs 1,066.8 crore relief fund to 6 flood-affected states of India

The Central Government has  sanctioned Rs 1,066.8 crore  as relief for  six flood-affected States – Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Assam, Uttarakhand and Kerala  . These States have been badly affected by heavy Southwest Monsoon rains which led to massive floods and landslides in these States. The share of the six States in the relief amount of Rs 1066.80 crore is as follows: Assam – Rs 375.60 crore, Manipur – Rs 29.20 crore, Uttarakhand – Rs 455.60 crore, Meghalaya – Rs 30.40 crore, Kerala – Rs 153.20 crore, Mizoram – Rs 22.80 crore. This amount has been  provided to the States as Central share from  the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) .

5 Sikkim sets up commission for glacial disasters

Sikkim  has  constituted a 13-member Commission for Glacial Disasters  . It  has been constituted in the wake of  the devastating  glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF)  that occurred in Sikkim on October 4, 2023. The Commission is working on an ambitious plan to establish a multi-lake protection structure in  the Korong-Kanchenjunga lake complex  , the final recommendations of which will be submitted by December this year. This structure is being designed to prevent the gradual destruction of glacial lakes and enhance the long-term resilience of the region to climate-induced disasters.  The Commission, headed by Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, former Senior Advisor, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India  , consists of 13 members. These include glaciologists, climate scientists, disaster management experts, senior officials from national and state level institutions and representatives of the Sikkim Forest Department.

6 Punjab launches health insurance scheme of Rs 10 lakh under Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)  government   of  Punjab has  launched  a free universal health insurance scheme of Rs 10 lakh for all 65 lakh families in the state. Punjab Chief Minister  Bhagwant Singh Mann  announced the  ‘ Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana ‘  at a function held in Chandigarh  on   July 8, 2025. Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal  was also present on the occasion. The scheme is expected to be launched on October 2, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. This universal health scheme was announced in the state government’s 2025-26 budget with an allocation of Rs 778 crore. Under this scheme, every family in the state will be provided free health insurance of Rs 10 lakh per year. The scheme will cover all families in Punjab, regardless of their income and place of residence. They will be issued a Sehat card by the state government. The beneficiaries will be provided free and cashless treatment at government hospitals and empanelled private hospitals.

7 CM Fadnavis inaugurated ‘Sindoor Bridge’

8 National Tribal Students Education Society and Tata Motors Limited sign MoU to empower tribal youth with skill-based education and employment opportunities

In a significant step towards  improving employability and career opportunities   for  tribal students , National Tribal Students Education Society (NESTS)  , an autonomous organization under  the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  with  Tata Motors Limited (TML)  . The collaborative agreement signed on July 9, 2025 aims to jointly provide skill education and employment opportunities for tribal students passing out of Class 12 from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), particularly through their enrollment in the prestigious Tata Motors Kaushalya Program. The five-year MoU will be effective from the date of signing. The MoU highlights the shared commitment to improve the quality of life of socially disadvantaged communities. It is in line with the National Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals as it focuses on employability and education. The MoU provides a streamlined opportunity for tribal youth to integrate into the skilled workforce.

9 NESTS enters into a historic partnership with Tata Motors and the former Navodaya Foundation to empower tribal students for JEE/NEET exams

National Tribal Education Society (NESTS)  , under the aegis of  Ministry of Tribal Affairs ,  has  signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors Limited (TML)  and  erstwhile Navodaya Foundation (ENF)  for inclusive education and empowerment of tribal youth to prepare for   IIT-JEE and NEET exams   . This landmark collaboration, signed on 9th July 2025, aims to provide comprehensive coaching for the highly competitive JEE Main/Advanced and NEET exams to students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). The MoU has been signed for a period of five years. It will commence from the academic year 2025-26. The MoU reflects a shared goal. It aims to bridge the education gap among tribal students. The initiative aims to increase the participation of tribal students in national level entrance examinations, build their confidence and create a sustainable talent pipeline from tribal communities for nation building. It is expected to benefit over 1,38,336 students enrolled in EMRS across 28 States and 8 Union Territories.

10 Centre grants tax benefit status to IREDA bonds under section 54EC

The central government  has  granted tax-saving status  to the bonds of  Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA),  a company financing   public sector renewable energy projects,  under  section 54EC of the Income Tax Act . This notification has come  into effect from July 9, 2025.  In a statement issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on Thursday, it was told that the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) under the Ministry of Finance has notified the bonds issued by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited as ‘long-term specified asset’ under section 54EC of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This notification is effective from July 9, 2025. This will facilitate raising funds at a lower cost for renewable energy and investors will get exemption in capital gains tax. Eligible investors can save tax on long-term capital gains (LTCG) up to Rs 50 lakh by investing in these bonds in a financial year. IREDA will benefit from lower cost of funds, which is a significant development for the renewable energy sector, and in turn will support rapid growth of the renewable energy sector.

11 National Fish Farmers Day 2025 celebrated at ICAR-CIFA Bhubaneswar

The 25th National Fish Farmers Day 2025 was   celebrated   on  10th July 2025 at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar . The event was organized by the Department of Fisheries , Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying  Rajiv Ranjan Singh , Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying  Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel  and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. National Fish Farmers Day  is celebrated  every year on  10th July since 2001  to recognize the contribution of fish farmers and aquaculture sector to the country’s economy. It was   on this day in 1957 that  Prof. Hiralal Chaudhary  and  Dr. K.H. Alikunhi  successfully induced the breeding of Indian Major Carps fish in the country   . The success of Prof. Hiralal Chaudhary and Dr. K.H. Alikunhi revolutionized inland aquaculture in the country.

12 Chintha Ravindran Award 2025: Sharankumar Limbale honored

Marathi writer and critic Sharankumar Limbale  has   been selected for  the Chintha Ravindran Puraskar 2025. The award consists of a cash prize, a memento and a citation. The honour will be presented at a special function organised at Kozhikode’s K. P. Keshavamenon Hall  on  July 26  , in memory of Chintha Ravindran. The award recognises Limbale’s contribution to literature and social thought. The award consists of a cash prize of ₹50,000, a memento and a citation. The honour will be presented at Kozhikode’s K. P. Keshavamenon Hall on July 26 at 10 am. The event is part of the annual function organised in memory of Chintha Ravindran, a noted leftist thinker and writer. Sharankumar Limbale’s writings have played an important role in mainstreaming Dalit literature and issues related to social justice.

13 HCLSoftware launches sovereign AI Domino IQ to strengthen government data privacy

HCLSoftware,   the software arm of  HCLtech , has launched  Domino 14.5  —an advanced platform  designed to ensure data sovereignty and data privacy   for  governments and regulated organizations. The key feature of this latest version is Domino IQ, a sovereign AI solution developed specifically to protect national and corporate-level sensitive information from foreign interference and access. The platform is particularly useful for organizations that want full control and security over data. Domino IQ is a unique innovation designed to meet the growing demand among public sector organizations that require AI systems that operate within national data boundaries. The solution facilitates secure collaboration without relying on a global cloud platform that can often be subject to surveillance by foreign governments. The innovation prioritizes data privacy, control, and sovereignty.

14 Sabih khan becomes Apple’s COO

Apple,  one of the world’s largest tech companies,  has   appointed  Indian-origin Sabih Khan  as its new  Chief Operating Officer (COO) . Born in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh,  Sabih will now take charge of one of the world’s most prestigious companies. Sabih started his career at GE Plastics, where he worked as an application development engineer and technical leader. After this, in 1995, he joined Apple’s procurement department and has been associated with the company since then. In the year 2019, he was made the Senior Vice President of Apple.

15 Guru Purnima 2025

Guru Purnima  is a special day that we  celebrate to thank and honor our teachers, i.e. Gurus  . These Gurus show us the path of life, impart knowledge and help us to become a better human being. The festival of Guru Purnima is celebrated in many countries like India, Nepal and Bhutan by the followers of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions. This day is a time to show love and respect to all those people who have taught us something. In the year 2025, Guru Purnima  is celebrated  on Thursday, July 10 .