India was elected as the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) with the highest number of votes at the 23rd AIBD General Conference, held in August 2025 in Phuket, Thailand.
This marks India's return to the top leadership role after last serving as AIBD Executive Council Chairman in 2016.
Founded in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO, the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) is a unique regional inter-governmental organization. It currently has 92 member organisations from 45 countries.
The conference gathered global broadcasting stakeholders to deliberate on policy exchange, content collaboration, and media development strategies.
Trump Appoints Sergio Gor as US Ambassador to India
US President Donald Trump announced the appointment of his close aide Sergio Gor as the next US ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Making the announcement, President Trump said that for the most populous region of the world, he needs someone whom he can fully trust to deliver on his agenda and help make America great again.
The appointment came amid tensions between the two countries, following the imposition of punitive tariffs on India by Trump.
Gor, a trusted aide to Trump, fills the vacancy in New Delhi that has remained since January 2025, when former US Ambassador Eric Garcetti was recalled after Trump assumed office in Washington, DC.
RBI Names Indranil Bhattacharyya as New MPC Member ahead of October Meet
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) named Executive Director Indranil Bhattacharyya as the newest internal member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), a panel that decides on the policy interest rate in India.
Bhattacharyya will replace Rajiv Ranjan, who is due to retire before the next MPC meeting that is due to take place between September 29 and October 1.
Bhattacharyya was appointed the RBI's Executive Director in March (2025). He has nearly three decades of experience across areas such as monetary policy, fiscal policy, banking, and international economic relations.
Srinivasan K. Swamy Re-Elected as President of AAAI for 2025-26
The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) re-elected Srinivasan K. Swamy, Executive Group Chairman of R K Swamy Ltd, as its President for 2025-26. His reappointment reflects the industry's continued trust in his leadership.
Srinivasan K. Swamy is a seasoned leader in the advertising and communications sector, widely respected for his contributions to the growth and professionalisation of the industry.
Founded in 1945, the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) is the apex body of advertising agencies in the country.
APEDA to Open New Regional Offices in Patna, Raipur, and Dehradun to Boost Agri Exports
In a move to strengthen India's agricultural export ecosystem, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) announced the opening of three new regional offices in Patna, Raipur, and Dehradun. This strategic expansion is designed to better support agricultural exporters across underserved regions and facilitate smoother export processes.
APEDA, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is headquartered in New Delhi and currently operates 16 regional offices in key cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Bhopal, Varanasi, Srinagar, Jammu, Ladakh, and Guwahati.
The addition of Patna (Bihar), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), and Dehradun (Uttarakhand) brings APEDA's presence closer to several agri-producing states that have high export potential but limited institutional support.
Gaganyaan Crew Module Passes Crucial Re-entry Test
In a major milestone for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation successfully completed an Integrated Air Drop Test, simulating the re-entry of the crew module, deployment of all parachutes, and recovery of the crew module.
For the test, a Chinook helicopter carried the dummy crew module to a height of around 3 kilometres, 40 kilometres off the seacoast, from the country's only spaceport Sriharikota.
Three main parachutes were deployed to slow down the crew module before it hit the sea. All the parachutes worked as expected and the velocity was reduced to limits safe for human beings. The module was recovered by the navy and handed over to ISRO.
India Wins Four Gold, One Silver at International Astronomy Olympiad, Ranks 1
India shone bright on the global stage, bagging four gold medals and one silver at the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), held for the first time in the country. It was held in Mumbai from August 12 to 21.
The Indian contingent, trained under the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), competed against nearly 300 students from 64 countries. Twelve nations participated in the Olympiad for the first time, making the achievement even more noteworthy.
Established in 2007, the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics is a premier global platform for high-school students passionate about astronomy and astrophysics.
The Uttar Pradesh Pro Volleyball League (UPPVL) marked history as Muzaffarnagar Lions emerged as the first-ever champions of Season 1. In a thrilling five-set finale at the Shaheed Vijay Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida, the Lions defeated Mathura Yodhas by winning 3 sets to 2, lifting the prestigious inaugural UPPVL trophy.
The finale was graced by Swatantra Dev Singh Ji, Jal Shakti Minister, Uttar Pradesh, and Dr. Abhishek Verma, Chief National Coordinator, Shivsena NDA Alliance & Elections as the Chief Guest, alongside special guests.
India U18 Women's Recurve Team Clinches Bronze at World Archery Youth Championships
The India Under-18 women's recurve team bagged the bronze medal at the World Archery Youth Championships 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada.
The Indian trio of Gatha Anandrao Khadake, Jiana Kumar and Sharvari Somnath Shende delivered a dominant performance and defeated USA 6-0 in the bronze medal match.
The World Archery Youth Championships 2025 was the 19th edition of the biennial meet that has been held since 1991. A total of 570 top youth archers from 63 countries around the world vied for medals in Winnipeg.
Cheteshwar Pujara Retires From All Forms of Cricket
Indian batting legend Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of cricket as he dropped curtains on an illustrious playing career. Pujara, a veteran of the Indian game, bids farewell after a career spanning more than 15 years and will go down as one of India's best middle-order batters. He represented Saurashtra in the domestic circuit, where he was again a batting legend, winning several honours.
Pujara made his IPL debut in 2010 for Kolkata Knight Riders. Over the next few years, he represented multiple franchises, including Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), and later Chennai Super Kings in 2021.
NITI Aayog Releases Report on 'Rethinking Homestays: Navigating Policy Pathways'
NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), released a new report titled 'Rethinking Homestays: Navigating Policy Pathways', offering a strategic roadmap to strengthen India's homestay and BnB ecosystem.
The report was unveiled by Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, in the presence of Yugal Kishore Joshi, Programme Director, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and representatives from states like Goa, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
The report underscores that homestays have the unique ability to blend cultural authenticity with livelihood creation, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions. It calls for flexible policy approaches, capacity building and the integration of digital platforms to empower hosts and strengthen consumer trust. It also features case studies and state-level best practices to illustrate scalable models for homestay development and governance.
Centre Sets Up Rajiv Gauba-led Panels to Drive Next-Gen Reforms, Viksit Bharat Vision
Central Government established two high-level committees under the leadership of Rajiv Gauba, a full-time NITI Aayog member and former Cabinet Secretary. These panels are designed to fast-track next-generation reforms and realise the ambitious Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision.
The two newly formed panels led by Rajiv Gauba will work in parallel but with distinct objectives,
Panel on Viksit Bharat Goals: Focused on strategising long-term policies and actions needed to fulfill India's aspiration of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Panel on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms: Concentrated on overhauling and simplifying regulatory frameworks across non-financial sectors to boost economic competitiveness and ease of doing business.
These panels are not working in isolation. They are closely coordinating with ministerial panels chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, ensuring top-level political backing and faster implementation.
In addition, a separate state-level deregulation committee has been constituted under Cabinet Secretary T. V. S. Swaminathan. This committee aims to address regulatory bottlenecks at the state level, a critical factor in India's federal governance structure.
Anish Dayal Singh New Deputy NSA
Former CRPF and ITBP Director General Anish Dayal Singh was appointed the new Deputy National Security Advisor, with a mandate to handle internal affairs.
Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer from the Manipur cadre, retired from service in December 2024. He had served for nearly 30 years in the Intelligence Bureau before heading the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and most recently, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Singh will be in-charge of internal affairs. Former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna is the Additional NSA, while retired IPS officer T. V. Ravichandran and former IFS officer Pawan Kapoor are the two serving Deputy NSAs.
India Partners with France's Safran to Build Jet Engines for Next-Gen Fighter Aircraft
In a move aimed at bolstering India's aerospace self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced a strategic partnership between India and French aerospace major Safran to co-develop and manufacture jet engines domestically. These engines will power the upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)—India's indigenously designed fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.
This collaboration reflects not just technology transfer but a long-term investment in defence manufacturing and innovation, enhancing India's capability to develop cutting-edge aerospace systems.
At the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) Mupperum Vizha celebrations in Karur on September 17, MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi will be conferred the Periyar Award in recognition of her contributions to the Dravidian movement.
The award, named after rationalist leader E. V. Ramasamy "Periyar", has historically been given to those who embody the ideals of social reform, rationalism, and resistance to oppression. By selecting Kanimozhi, the DMK signals both recognition of her personal political trajectory and the continuation of the movement's ideological legacy.
Andhra CM Naidu Announces Welfare Package for Municipal Workers
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu introduced a groundbreaking Rs. 1 crore accident insurance coverage for regular municipal workers, marking a significant enhancement in welfare benefits for frontline staff.
The announcement came during the Swarnandhra-Swachhandhra program in Peddapuram, Kakinada district, where the CM emphasised the coalition government's commitment to protecting the health and security of workers essential to public hygiene.
Developed in partnership with the Urban Development Department and Axis Bank, the scheme extends comprehensive financial support to all categories of employees — permanent, outsourced, and contract — across 123 urban local bodies. It covers 55,686 workers, including 39,170 in public health and 16,516 in other divisions.
For permanent workers, the package includes Rs. 1 crore for accidental death or permanent disability, plus Rs. 10 lakh life insurance. Outsourced staff will receive Rs. 20 lakh for accidents and Rs. 2 lakh life cover. Families affected by accidental deaths can also access up to Rs. 8 lakh for children's education.
Kerala Becomes India's First 100% Digitally Literate State
Kerala Chief Minister declared the state as India's first fully digitally literate state, achieving a significant milestone under the Digi Kerala project. This recognition marks not only the completion of Phase I of the initiative but also Kerala's leadership in bridging the digital divide through grassroots participation and inclusive training.
Kerala's digital literacy drive was built on community-centric implementation, ensuring maximum coverage and inclusiveness.
NCERT Launches Modules on India's Space Journey and ISRO's Key Milestones
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) rolled out two new educational modules titled 'India: A Rising Space Power', designed to showcase the country's remarkable progress in space science and technology.
Aimed at middle- and secondary-level students, the modules trace India's journey from the modest days of transporting rockets on bicycles and bullock carts in the 1960s to today's status as a cost-effective leader in global space exploration, with achievements like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1. Illustrated with timelines, photographs, and diagrams, the modules aim to make India's space story accessible and engaging for students.
Six-Day Indian Cinema Festival Concludes in Sri Lanka
A vibrant celebration of Indian cinema was held in Sri Lanka, the six-day Indian film festival, from August 18 to 23, 2025, was held at the Trincomalee campus of Eastern University. The event was a cultural initiative designed to deepen people-to-people ties and strengthen India-Sri Lanka relations through the universal language of film.
The Indian cinema festival, curated and supported by cultural institutions from both countries, aimed to highlight the rich linguistic, regional, and thematic diversity of Indian cinema. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, Governor of Sri Lanka's Eastern Province.
Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration to Host MCIA Singapore Roadshow at the Singapore Convention Week
The Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration (MCIA) is set to host its Singapore Roadshow during the Singapore Convention Week 2025. As part of this initiative, MCIA is organising three events in collaboration with eminent law firms and institutions in Singapore.
The sessions will focus on contemporary developments in arbitration and dispute resolution, with a particular emphasis on India's evolving legal and regulatory landscape.
The Singapore Convention Week 2025 is scheduled to take place from August 25 to 29, 2025. The event will gather legal practitioners, mediators, arbitrators, and other professionals to discuss the evolving landscape of global dispute resolution, with some sessions also offered virtually.
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