National News Updates

The Charaideo Maidam, a 700-year-old burial mound system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam, has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list under 'cultural property'. This decision was made during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi. Celebrations erupted across Assam following the announcement by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War victory, emphasized it as a triumph of the Indian people and criticised previous governments for neglecting war memorials. He lauded advancements in defence capabilities and regional development, including projects like the Shinkun La tunnel in Ladakh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Kargil Vijay Diwas, stated that Pakistan has repeatedly faced defeat in its misadventures and has not learned from history. He paid tribute to soldiers' sacrifices and assured that terrorism will be crushed.

Two teams from the Indian Armed Forces, led by Lt. Colonel Manoj Joshi, have successfully planted India's tri-colour on Mount Elbrus during the International Military Sports Council's 'Climb for Peace' event. The Tri-Services team included a woman Navy mountaineer, Shristi Thakur, and three Army personnel.

A Delhi court extended CM Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody till August 8 in the liquor policy scam case. The decision was made by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at Rouse Avenue Court. Last week, the Delhi High Court reserved its verdict on Kejriwal's plea challenging his CBI arrest and seeking interim bail. Despite a Supreme Court order for interim bail on July 12, Kejriwal remains in jail.

Rashtrapati Bhavan's 'Durbar Hall' and 'Ashok Hall' have been renamed 'Ganatantra Mandap' and 'Ashok Mandap'. This change, initiated by President Droupadi Murmu, reflects Indian cultural values. The renaming aims to eliminate anglicisation and uphold key Indian traditions.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released 32 new Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs) for various diseases. Developed with the National Health Authority and WHO India, these STWs span five specialties, enhancing the 125 previously released STWs to ensure uniform healthcare standards.

Indian Navy's frontline missile frigate INS Brahmaputra sustained severe damage and tilted heavily to one side following a fire mishap onboard the ship while it was undergoing refit at the naval dockyard in Mumbai.

Kavach, on which a sum of Rs 1,216.77 crore has been utilised so far, helps prevent collisions and ensures safety in adverse weather by automatically controlling train speeds.

Over the last decade, Indian Railways recruited 5.02 lakh candidates, surpassing the previous decade's 4.11 lakh. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Lok Sabha of successful CBT exams for over 2.37 crore candidates post-Covid-19, leading to 1,30,581 recruitments. New system improvements include an annual calendar and notifications for 32,603 vacancies in various Group C posts.

India is ranked 82nd on the Henley Passport Index, allowing visa-free entry to 58 countries. Singapore tops the list with access to 195 destinations. IATA predicts nearly 5 billion people will travel via airlines in 2024.

Ali Fazal, celebrated for 'Mirzapur', will star opposite Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the period fantasy drama 'Rakht Brahmand'. Directed by Rahi Anil Barve and produced by Raj & DK, filming begins next week in Mumbai. The series also features Aditya Roy Kapur and Wamiqa Gabbi.

Officials identified the soldier as Dilawar Singh of 28 Rashtriya Rifles. He was injured in the gunfight with the terrorists in the Kowut Trumkhan forests of the district.

The Supreme Court has ruled out cancelling and retesting NEET-UG 2024 due to insufficient material on record. A bench led by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud found no systematic question paper leak based on IIT Madras' data analytics.

The government announced a reduction in the basic customs duty on mobile phones, printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and chargers from 20% to 15%. This move, revealed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the Union Budget 2024-2025 presentation, aims to boost domestic production and exports. Industry leaders like Pankaj Mohindroo of ICEA welcomed the decision, highlighting its potential to enhance manufacturing competitiveness. India’s electronics sector has seen significant growth, with mobile phones now making up 43% of total production.