1. India to Host AI Impact Summit 2026
Subject: International
- India will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, showcasing its leadership in responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) development.
- The summit aligns with PM Narendra Modi’s vision to leverage AI for real-world challenges in health, education, agriculture, and governance.
- The IndiaAI Mission emphasizes safety, equity, privacy, and accountability, funding 30 AI-based public interest projects.
- A new IndiaAI Safety Institute has been established to address issues like deepfake detection and AI bias mitigation.
- The initiative is supported by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023) and IT Rules (2021) for ethical AI growth.
- India aims to develop native Language Models using Indian datasets to enhance AI accessibility.
- The summit will position India as a global leader in democratizing AI for public good.
2. Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 Comes into Effect
Subject: Economy
- The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, effective from August 1, 2025, introduces reforms across five major banking legislations.
- It aims to enhance governance, transparency, and accountability in the banking sector.
- Key reforms include stricter compliance measures and improved oversight of banking operations.
- The act strengthens investor protection and aligns with global financial standards.
- It addresses issues like non-performing assets (NPAs) and financial fraud through robust mechanisms.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will play a pivotal role in implementing these reforms.
3. Indian Wrestlers Shine at U17 World Wrestling Championships
Subject: National
- Indian wrestlers secured six medals at the 2025 U17 World Wrestling Championships in Athens, Greece (July 28–August 3).
- The tally includes three gold, two silver, and one bronze, with Indian women wrestlers winning five medals.
- Rachana made history as the first Indian to win gold in the 43 kg women’s freestyle category, defeating China’s Xin Huang 3-0.
- Ashvini Vishnoi clinched gold in the 65 kg division, defeating Uzbekistan’s Mukhayyo Rakhimjonova 3-0.
- Moni and Kajal secured silver in the 57 kg and 73 kg categories, respectively, while Komal Verma won bronze in the 49 kg category.
- The championships feature competitions in men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s freestyle.
4. Tamil Nadu’s Mangrove Restoration Drive
Subject: National
- Tamil Nadu’s Green Tamil Nadu Mission has doubled mangrove cover from 4,500 to 9,000 hectares between 2021 and 2024.
- The MSSRF–Muthupettai Estuary project restored 115 hectares by planting 4.3 lakh Avicennia seeds with community collaboration.
- Mangroves act as bio-shields, protecting coastal areas from cyclones and floods while enhancing biodiversity.
- Challenges include shrimp farming replacing native mangrove habitats and invasive species like Prosopis juliflora.
- Local women are employed in seedling planting, linking biodiversity conservation with livelihoods.
- The initiative supports climate resilience and aligns with India’s broader mangrove restoration efforts.
5. Revised UPI Operational Rules by NPCI
Subject: Economy
- The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) rolled out revised Unified Payments Interface (UPI) rules effective August 1, 2025.
- The changes aim to reduce transaction lags and system overloads during peak hours.
- The RBI Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) reached 493.22 in March 2025, reflecting growth in India’s digital payments ecosystem.
- The rules enhance user experience by improving transaction efficiency and reliability.
- UPI’s growth supports India’s push towards a cashless economy and financial inclusion.
- The revisions align with the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, ensuring robust digital financial infrastructure.
