Odisha to Introduce Tigers in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
The Odisha government is planning to introduce tigers in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bargarh district.
Speaking about the revival of big cat population in Odisha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife Prem Kumar Jha said that Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a possible site for introduction of tigers.
The state government has formed an expert committee to study the wildlife sanctuary and submit a report marking the core area and buffer zone to make it a tiger habitation.
The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 came into effect from August 1, 2025. In an official gazette notification dated July 29, 2025, the Ministry of Finance said that sections 3, 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of the Act will be enforced from the first day of August.
The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 was first published on April 15, 2025, after receiving the President's assent. The law amends multiple older banking laws — including the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the State Bank of India Act, 1955, and the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts of 1970 and 1980.
India Post Payments Bank Launches Aadhaar-based Face Authentication for Digital Transactions
The India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) announced the nationwide rollout of Aadhaar-based face authentication for customer transactions, a move aimed at enhancing ease of access and financial inclusion for the elderly, differently-abled and those facing biometric authentication issues.
Developed under the framework of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the feature enables customers to carry out banking services using facial recognition, eliminating the need for physical biometrics like fingerprints or one-time passwords (OTPs).
Hexaware Appoints Shantanu Baruah to Lead Healthcare, Life Sciences, and Insurance Globally
Hexaware Technologies, a global IT solutions company, announced the appointment of Shantanu Baruah as President & Global Head – Healthcare, Life Sciences & Insurance (H&I). He will be based out of the company's New Jersey office and will lead Hexaware's global strategy, growth, and client success initiatives across the vertical.
With over 25 years of experience in the healthcare and life sciences industry, Shantanu brings deep domain expertise and a proven track record of building high-performing teams, driving strategic growth, and leading complex client transformations. Prior to joining Hexaware, he served as Executive Vice President at HCLTech, where he led the Healthcare vertical during one of the industry's most disruptive periods and played a pivotal role in expanding business in the Americas.
ISRO Plans Four Major Satellite Launches This Year
Following the successful launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced plans for four major satellite missions later this year.
These upcoming satellites are expected to support critical sectors such as agriculture, weather forecasting, climate monitoring, secure communications, navigation services and oceanography.
According to ISRO officials, Oceansat-3A is slated for launch within this financial year. It will support marine resource management, phytoplankton biodiversity mapping and algal bloom detection.
The NVS-03 navigation satellite will enhance indigenous, regional space-based navigation services. Also on the schedule is TDS-01, a technology demonstration satellite aimed at testing key innovations, including electric propulsion systems.
Another key mission, GSAT-7R, will be launched to serve maritime operations and military communication needs.
National Cybersecurity Exercise 2025 Concludes
The Bharat National Cybersecurity Exercise 2025, organised jointly by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), concluded successfully as a landmark event in India's cybersecurity landscape, bringing together over 600 participants including cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, defense personnel, academicians, and industry leaders. This year's exercise incorporated a dedicated focus on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security and AI-driven cyber threats such as adversarial attacks and deepfake manipulation, alongside core modules covering Security Operations Centres (SOC), API security, Reverse Engineering Malware Analysis (REMA), and Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR).
India Shines at the 20th Asian Roller-Skating Championship in South Korea
The 20th Asian Roller-Skating Championship which was held in South Korea, concluded with record-breaking participation and standout performances from athletes across the continent. Governed by the Confederation of Asian Roller Sports (CARS), the prestigious event brought together over 600 skaters from 22 countries, competing across multiple disciplines including speed, inline hockey, freestyle, and artistic roller-skating. One of the standout moments of the tournament was when India's Naisha Nishit Mehta struck gold, becoming the first Indian junior skater to top the podium in this event on an international stage.
Regarded as one of Asia's premier skating tournaments, the championship is known for showcasing top-tier talent and providing a platform for emerging skaters to make their mark on the international stage.
Punjab Government Lifts Ban on Heritage Sports
In a historic move, the Punjab government lifted the long-standing ban on traditional heritage sports, including bullock cart races, dog races, horse races, and pigeon racing, marking a revival of the state's cultural identity. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while addressing a gathering in Ludhiana, said that the decision fulfils the government's promise to the people of Punjab to bring back their much-loved rural traditions.
The ban on these sports had been in place since 1997, with concerns over alleged animal cruelty. However, the new legislation introduced by the state government ensures that these events will now be held across Punjab without cruelty to animals.
BJP Rajya Sabha Tally Crosses 100 for First Time Since 2022
In a boost for the ruling BJP ahead of the elections for the Vice President on September 9, the party has crossed the 100 mark in the Rajya Sabha for the first time since April 2022, with three nominated members joining it.
Top lawyer, Ujjwal Nikam, former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and social worker C. Sadanandan Master, who took oath as Rajya Sabha MPs last month (July), joined the BJP in August, taking the party's tally to 102.
The Rajya Sabha currently has a strength of 240 MPs, including 12 nominated members, and has five vacancies.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan Assumes Charge as Vice Chief of Naval Staff
Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan assumed charge as the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS). Soon after taking over, he paid homage to fallen heroes by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
An alumnus of the 71st course of the National Defence Academy, Pune, Vice Admiral Vatsayan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1988. A specialist in Gunnery and Missile Systems, he brings over three decades of operational, command, and staff experience to his new role.
T. N. Manoharan, IDBI Chairman and Padma Shri Awardee, Passes Away
T. N. Manoharan, the Chairman of IDBI Bank and a renowned chartered accountant passed away. A Padma Shri awardee and former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Manoharan leaves behind a remarkable legacy in banking, finance, and corporate governance.
T. N. Manoharan's illustrious career spanned several decades, during which he made invaluable contributions to India's financial sector. He served as the non-executive Chairman of Canara Bank from 2015 to 2020 and later took charge as the Chairman of IDBI Bank, steering key reforms and strengthening governance.
The 71st National Film Awards for the year 2023 were officially announced on August 1, 2025, celebrating outstanding achievements in Indian cinema. The prestigious awards recognised exceptional contributions by actors, filmmakers, and technicians across the country. This year was particularly historic as Shah Rukh Khan won his first-ever National Award for Best Actor, while Rani Mukerji clinched the Best Actress award for her powerful performance. Alongside mainstream stars, several regional films like HanuMan, Parking, and 12th Fail also made a remarkable impact.
Cabinet Enhances Budgetary Allocation for PMKSY to Rs. 6,520 Crore
The Union Cabinet approved a major increase in the budget for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), raising its allocation by Rs. 1,920 crore to a total of Rs. 6,520 crore. The move, taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to give a significant boost to India's food processing sector by creating modern infrastructure and ensuring better food safety standards.
Launched in 2017, the PMKSY has been a key initiative to strengthen India's food processing capacity and reduce post-harvest losses.
Transgender Enrolment in Schools, Colleges Rises, UP, Bihar Lead
India has seen a notable increase in the enrolment of transgender students in both school and higher education, according to data shared by the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha.
As per the figures, the number of transgender students enrolled in schools rose from just 155 in the 2021-22 academic year to 965 in 2023-24. This marks a more than six-fold increase in two years.
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recorded the highest school enrolments in 2023-24, with 327 and 282 students, respectively.
A similar increase was seen in colleges and universities. As per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), the number of transgender students enroled in higher education increased from 302 in 2020-21 to 1,448 in 2022-23 (provisional).
Uttar Pradesh topped this list as well, with 369 students in 2022-23, followed by Maharashtra (158), Madhya Pradesh (124), Telangana (104), and Tamil Nadu (98).
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