This past week brought significant developments across India’s polity, defence, international relations, environment, and science, alongside notable achievements and emerging challenges.
National Policy Updates
The Indian Railways launched the ‘RailOne App’, a comprehensive solution for all passenger services. This single platform now handles reserved, unreserved, and platform ticket bookings, live train tracking, grievance redressal via RailMadad, PNR inquiries, and e-catering. Users also get a 3% discount on unreserved tickets purchased through R-Wallet.
In a move to boost formal sector employment, particularly in manufacturing, the Union Cabinet approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme. With an outlay of Rs 99,446 crore, this scheme, announced in the 2024-25 Union Budget, aims to create 3.5 crore jobs over two years.
Defence Enhancements
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Tamal, a new Russian-manufactured guided missile frigate, in Kaliningrad, Russia. This multi-role stealth frigate, built in Kaliningrad, is the eighth in the Project 1135.6 series and is equipped with dual-role BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and potent anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Separately, an engineering team from the United Kingdom arrived in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, to repair a British Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet. The F-35B, known as the ‘Lightning’, is a fifth-generation fighter with unique short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) abilities, making it ideal for operating from smaller bases and ships.
Global Engagements and International News
Following extensive aerial attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree to withdraw Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel landmines.
The foreign ministers of the Quad grouping — India, Australia, Japan, and the United States — convened in Washington, D.C. They launched the ‘Quad Critical Minerals Initiative’ to bolster economic security and diversify supply chains. Discussions also focused on strengthening maritime security, including the new Quad Ports of the Future Partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received two significant international honors: ‘The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana’ and ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’. These awards recognize his distinguished statesmanship and global leadership. His visit to Trinidad and Tobago marked the first such bilateral visit at the prime ministerial level since 1999.
Understanding CARICOM
CARICOM, or the Caribbean Community, is a regional political and economic union comprising 15 states and five associated members. It was formed on July 4, 1973, by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, fostering cooperation among its diverse members.
Environmental Concerns
The Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has delayed clearance for a proposed international airport in Puri, Odisha. The decision stems from concerns about potential harm to endangered species like Olive Ridley turtles and Irrawaddy dolphins, as well as migratory birds visiting the nearby Chilika Lake.
Olive Ridley turtles, listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN, have a major nesting site near the proposed airport. Irrawaddy dolphins, categorized as ‘Endangered’, are found in Chilika Lake, which is also India’s first wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Science and Technology Advancements
An Air India Express flight from Delhi returned to the airport following suspected GPS interference. This can involve ‘GPS jamming’, where strong signals overpower weaker ones, or ‘GPS spoofing’, which transmits false data to deceive navigation systems. Such interference can be intentional or caused by natural phenomena.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla recently interacted with students via a ham radio from the International Space Station (ISS). Ham radio, a licensed amateur radio service, allows communication using radio waves. In India, individuals over 12 can obtain a license from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to operate it.
Public Health Alerts
The Kerala Health Department has heightened its vigilance against the Nipah virus after detecting two positive cases. Nipah is a deadly zoonotic viral infection that can spread from animals like bats and pigs to humans, causing severe symptoms including fever, headache, and in critical cases, encephalitis leading to coma or death.
Notable Personalities
Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia has made history as the first woman to be streamed into the fighter stream of Naval Aviation. Upon completing her year-long training, she will qualify to fly frontline fighter jets such as the MiG-29K or Rafale M from the Navy’s aircraft carriers.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, celebrated his 90th birthday on July 6. Born Lhamo Thondup, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at age two. He has lived in exile in India since 1959, becoming a global voice for the Tibetan struggle.
The Gaden Phodrang Trust, registered in Dharamshala, holds the sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. This trust is one of three institutions associated with the Dalai Lama, working for the welfare of the Tibetan people and promoting human values.
Geographical Spotlight
The Himalayan village of Samjung in Nepal is facing forced relocation due to climate change. Melting glaciers, increased flooding, and vanishing water sources are impacting communities in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan regions, which are warming faster than lowlands.
Sports Highlights
India’s Neeraj Chopra clinched victory at the inaugural NC Classic 2025, the country’s first international javelin competition. He won with a throw of 86.18m at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Term in Focus
Kolhapuri chappals, traditional handcrafted unisex leather sandals from Maharashtra and Karnataka, were in the news. These iconic footwear items received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019, signifying their unique origin and traditional craftsmanship.
