Prime Minister marks 11 transformative years of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. It is considered one of the biggest financial inclusion initiatives in the world and serves as a National Mission on Financial Inclusion. 

Major achievements

• >56 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened. A total deposit balance of 2.68 lakh crore rupees has been garnered in these accounts.
• >38 crore free-of-cost RuPay cards have been issued, facilitating digital transactions.
• 67% of the accounts are opened in rural or semi-urban areas, bringing underprivileged individuals in far-flung areas into the formal financial sector.
• ~56% of the accounts are opened by women

The 2025 Annual Update of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) has been released.

About AQLI

• It is a pollution index that measures the impact of particulate air pollution on life expectancy.
• Developer:  Created by Michael Greenstone (Professor), and his team at Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).

Key Highlights

• India:  Air pollution meeting WHO guidelines could extend Indian residents' lives by 3.5 years on average, with Delhi seeing an 8.2-year gain (highest).
• South Asia continues to be the most polluted region in the world.

In view of the persistent demand–supply gap, the Government has extended the import duty exemption on cotton until 31st December 2025.

Cotton

• It is also termed as “White-Gold”
• Climatic Conditions:
  • Cotton is a natural fiber and a semi-xerophyte tropical crop grown in the kharif season in semi-arid regions of India. 
    • Cotton is grown on a variety of soils ranging from well drained deep alluvial soils (North) to black clayey soils (Central) and in black red soils (South) region  in India.
  • It is semi-tolerant to salinity and sensitive to water logging.
  • Requires high temperature, light rainfall and ~210 frost-free days and bright sunshine for its growth.
• Production in India
  • India is the second largest producer of cotton after China.
  • India is the only country which grows all four species of cotton.
  • Major States: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) shows growth of 3.5% in July 2025.

About Index of Industrial Production

• Compiled by: Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) to measure real industrial growth.
• Frequency: Monthly.
• Base year: 2011-12.
• Scope: Confined to mining, manufacturing (highest weight), and electricity (lowest weight) sectors. 
• It excludes construction, gas, and water supply due to data constraints.

Prime Minister extended wishes to the people of India on the occasion of Nuakhai.

About Nuakhai Festival

• Also known as Navanna, is an agro-based religious festival celebrated primarily in Western Odisha.
• Origin: According to Oral tradition, it was introduced by Raja Ramai Dev of Patna (1355-1380 CE). 
• Significance: It centers on the worship of food grain or rice and expresses gratefulness for a good harvest, symbolizing life itself.

The US has approved the delivery of Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAMs) to Ukraine.

About ERAMs

• It is a next-generation air-launched, precision-guided missile.
• Range:  240 to 450 kilometers.
• Warhead: Carries a 500-pound high-explosive warhead, able to destroy hardened bunkers, fuel depots, or ammunition storage.
• Guidance: A combination of GPS, inertial navigation, and a terminal seeker provides accuracy within about ten meters.

UAE (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) has signed a 15-year agreement with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to supply 1 million tonnes per annum of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

About LNG

• It is a natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state, at about –260° F (–162° C). 
  • The process of converting natural gas into LNG is called liquefaction.
  • This reduces its volume by 600 times compared to its gaseous state.
• It facilitates safe transportation, long-distance shipping and storage of natural gas.
• The USA is the largest exporter of LNG in the world followed by Australia and Qatar.

SEBI clarified that its Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience Framework (CCSRF) applies only to the systems of the entities regulated by SEBI.

• If regulated entities follow RBI or other regulators’ equivalent cybersecurity rules, SEBI will accept them as compliance.

About SEBI’ CCSRF

• Issued in 2015 for Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs).
• Objective: To strengthen the cybersecurity measures in the Indian securities market, and to ensure adequate cyber resiliency against cybersecurity incidents/ attacks.
• Applicable to: Stock Brokers and Depository Participants, Mutual Funds /Asset Management Companies, KYC Registration Agencies, Portfolio Managers, etc.