New Freshwater Crabs Discovered in the Western Ghats in Kerala
The new genus and species, belonging to the freshwater crab family Gecarcinucidae, was spotted in the Ranipuram Hill Station, Kasaragod district. It was named Kasargodia sheebae. The other new species, also from the Gecarcinucidae family, was spotted in Gavi, Pathanamthitta district. This species belongs to the genus Pilarta and was named Pilarta vaman, the researchers said.
H. E. Zeenat Kureshi, India's First Woman to Hold the Prestigious GCC-India Trade Commissioner Role
H. E. Zeenat Kureshi became India's first woman to be appointed as the GCC-India Trade Commissioner under an international chamber of commerce. This historic appointment placed her at the forefront of strengthening luxury diplomacy and economic cooperation between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.
Zeenat Kureshi is pioneering the role of Trade Commissioner in the luxury sector--a domain that blends high-value commerce with cultural exchange. Her work focuses on building strategic alliances between premium Indian industries and the GCC's expanding luxury markets.
Bank of Baroda Introduces Global UPI Services via bob इ Pay App
In a significant move to enhance the scope of digital payments, Bank of Baroda rolled out international UPI features on its official app, bob इ Pay. This update enables cross-border UPI transactions, making it easier for resident Indians and NRIs to engage in secure and real-time global payments. With this, the bank became one of the first public sector banks to align closely with the evolving global UPI ecosystem.
The new features introduced include UPI Global Acceptance, Foreign Inward Remittance, and dedicated UPI access for NRIs. These additions transform bob इ Pay from a domestic payment tool into a global digital transaction platform.
IOA Approves India's Bid to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally approved the country's bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games during its Special General Meeting (SGM) in New Delhi.
India has already submitted an Expression of Interest for the 2030 CWG with Ahmedabad as the host city.
Canada has pulled out of the race, and India's chances of getting the 2030 CWG have brightened.
Haryana Boys and Girls Sweep Team Titles at 4th Sub Junior National Boxing Championships
Haryana's young boxing brigade delivered a stunning all-round performance at the 4th Sub Junior (U-15) Boys and Girls National Boxing Championships, clinching the overall team titles in both categories.
In the Boys category, Haryana secured 4 gold, 2 silver, and 6 bronze medals and claimed the team crown, while Services followed closely with 5 gold, 4 silver, and 9 bronze medals. Uttar Pradesh rounded off the podium with 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze.
The Girls team mirrored this success, producing champions in multiple divisions, including Garima (35-37kg), Princi (49-52kg), Sunaina (58-61kg), Jivika (61-64kg) and Radhika Sharma (67-70kg). Services finished second overall, with gold medalists like Navya (52-55kg) and Nishalini Muthukumar (43-46kg), while Maharashtra claimed third place with standout wins from Riya Shinde (30-33kg) and Ovi Adwant (46-49kg).
SHRESTH: India's First State Health Regulatory Excellence Index
The Union Health Ministry unveiled SHRESTH – the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index, marking a significant milestone in India's public health governance. This first-of-its-kind national initiative is designed to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems through a transparent, data-driven framework.
The program reflects India's growing emphasis on medicine quality, safety, and efficacy, reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring that every Indian—regardless of location—receives safe and effective medicines.
TRAI Launches India's First Property Rating Framework for Digital Connectivity
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the country's first Manual for Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity, providing a standardised framework to assess how effectively buildings are equipped for high-speed, reliable digital access.
The move came as over 80% of mobile data in India is consumed indoors, where high-frequency 4G and 5G signals are often weakened by modern construction materials.
The manual, developed under the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024, sets a uniform assessment methodology for Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies and serves as a reference framework for property managers and service providers. It outlines clear, transparent criteria for evaluating fibre readiness, in-building mobile coverage, Wi-Fi access, broadband speeds, and overall user experience.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy Retains Post CCI General Secretary of Constitution Club of India
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, senior BJP leader and MP from Saran, retained his post as General Secretary (Administration) of the Constitution Club of India (CCI). The fiercely contested election, culminated after 25 rounds of counting, with Rudy defeating fellow BJP leader Sanjeev Kumar Balyan by a decisive margin of 102 votes.
Founded in February 1947, the Constitution Club of India is located on Rafi Marg, close to Parliament House. It serves as a social and professional hub for current and former Members of Parliament, offering a unique space for bipartisan interaction and networking.
The Club is headed by the Lok Sabha Speaker (ex-officio President), with the Deputy Speaker as General Secretary, and also includes a Union Minister and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chair among its Vice-Presidents.
In a step towards strengthening India's self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in defence production, the government is in an advanced stage of creating two more defence industrial corridors—one in Maharashtra and the other in Assam—in the coming months. This move follows the success of the two existing corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which have made notable progress since their launch in 2018.
The concept of Defence Industrial Corridors was announced in 2017–18 to create specialised hubs for defence manufacturing and innovation.
Bibi Fatima Women's SHG Wins UNDP Equator Prize 2025 for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Farming
The Bibi Fatima Women's Self-Help Group (SHG) won the Equator Prize 2025 awarded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)—often referred to as the "Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation".
This recognition celebrates their pioneering work in eco-friendly farming, community seed banking, millet promotion, and women-led rural entrepreneurship.
As per UNDP official release, Bibi Fatima Women's SHG is the sole group from India to win the award, other winners are from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and Tanzania. The award includes a cash prize of $10,000 (approximately Rs. 8.5 lakh). This year's award selection was based on the theme 'Women and Youth Leadership for Nature-Based Climate Action'. Around 700 competitors from 103 countries competed for the prize.
Nation Honours 1,090 Personnel with Gallantry and Service Medals
Ahead of the country's 79th Independence Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that 1,090 personnel from Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence, and Correctional Services were honoured with Gallantry and Service Medals this year.
Among the honourees, 233 were presented with the prestigious Medal for Gallantry (GM), recognised for acts of exceptional courage in saving lives, protecting property, curbing crime, or apprehending offenders—even at great personal risk.
Ninety-nine personnel received the President's Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) was awarded to 758 individuals.
HSB Appoints Former IIM Lucknow Director Prof. Archana Shukla as Director
Hari Shankar Singhania School of Business (HSB), a pioneering, technology-driven business school at JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur, appointed, Prof. Archana Shukla, as its new Director. She succeeded Prof. Gregory Dunn.
An IIT Kanpur alumna with a PhD in Psychology, Prof. Shukla is an eminent academic with over three decades of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership, specialising in organisational behaviour and knowledge management.
Prof. Shukla served for six years as Director of IIM Lucknow, and previously as Dean of the IIM Lucknow Noida Campus for over three years. She was the first chairperson of Dr. Ishwar Dayal Chair for futuristic Issues in the Behavioral Sciences (2015-2017).
Kuwait Introduces Visa-on-Arrival for All GCC Residents
In a move to boost regional connectivity, Kuwait introduced a visa-on-arrival (VoA) facility for all residents holding valid residency permits in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Effective immediately, expatriates can obtain a one-month tourist visa upon arrival at Kuwait International Airport or other entry points, provided their GCC residence permit is valid for at least six months.
Previously restricted to select professions, the scheme now applies to all foreign nationals, removing the need for prior applications or embassy visits. The change follows Kuwait's rollout of an e-visa platform in July 2025 and is seen as a step toward the planned unified GCC tourist visa.
The Indian diaspora – numbering over nine million across the GCC and forming the largest expatriate group in the region, is expected to benefit significantly. For Indians living in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, the new VoA simplifies travel to Kuwait for family visits, business, or leisure, while reducing administrative hurdles and costs.
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