The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India in partnership with NITI Aayog, Union Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment and Health & Family Welfare supported the Sankala Foundation in organising a day-long National Conference on ‘Ageing in India: Emerging realities, evolving responses’, which was held in New Delhi on 1st August, 2025. The conference focused on protecting the human rights and dignity of senior citizens and redefining ageing as an opportunity. It aimed to promote innovative policies, encourage stakeholder dialogue and highlight scalable best practices in response to the evolving challenges and opportunities of India’s ageing population.

In his inaugural address, NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian said that India has a rich cultural tradition advocating care and reverence for the elderly as a fundamental societal value. In this context, he also drew references from the Sangam literature and the Yajur Veda. He called for the integration of these ancient values and principles into modern policy frameworks to ensure the dignity, protection and well-being of senior citizens, in alignment with the NHRC’s mandate to uphold human rights. Underscoring the Commission’s commitment to protecting the rights of the elderly, he highlighted its various initiatives, including advisories, core group meetings, research studies and suo motu cognizance cases.

In his special address, Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member (Health, Nutrition and Education), NITI Aayog, emphasised the importance of healthcare and social security frameworks for the ageing population. He said that empowering families to take care of their elderly should remain the foundation of India’s approach.

The National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) Delhi, Ropar, and Jammu in collaboration with Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) successfully organized the DGR Job Fair 2025 on 2nd August 2025 at NIELIT Delhi – Janakpuri Centre. The job fair was held for facilitating placement opportunities for DGR candidates trained at NIELIT Delhi, Jammu and Ropar. 14 companies shortlisted candidates against 250+ job openings in their respective companies. More than 190 candidates had registered for the Job Fair.

The event provided meaningful employment opportunities to serving and ex-servicemen who have undergone training in various IT and emerging technology domains in NIELIT.

Dr. Alok Tripathi, Director (Scheme & Skilling) and Chief Controller of Examination, NIELIT welcomed the dignitaries & participants and reiterated NIELIT’s commitment to bridging the gap between training and placement.

India's cooperative sector is set to challenge ride-hailing giants Ola and Uber with the launch of a taxi service under the brand Bharat by the end of this year, backed by Rs 300 crore authorised capital and having already onboarded 200 drivers across four states.

The Multi-State Sahakari Taxi Cooperative Ltd, registered on June 6, represents a consortium of eight prominent cooperatives, including the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO), and Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF).

Last month, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah had indicated that a cooperative taxi service will be launched by the end of 2025, while unveiling a comprehensive cooperative policy for the sector.

"The key objective is to ensure better returns to drivers and provide quality, safe and affordable services to passengers," NCDC Deputy Managing Director Rohit Gupta told PTI.

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $2.7 billion to reach $698.19 billion for the week ending July 25, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday.

The rise was led by foreign currency assets, which went up by $1.31 billion to $588.93 billion.

These assets, expressed in dollar terms, include the impact of changes in the value of other major currencies such as the Euro, Pound, and Yen held in the reserves.

Gold reserves also contributed to the growth, increasing by $1.2 billion to $85.7 billion.

The special drawing rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) rose by $126 million to $18.8 billion, while India’s reserve position with the IMF improved by $55 million to $4.75 billion during the week.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, and Power Manohar Lal on Saturday jointly launched the ‘Matri Van’ initiative, a theme-based urban forest spanning 750 acres in the Aravalli Hill area along the Gurugram-Faridabad Road. The initiative, part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ programme, aims to enhance ecological preservation and foster community participation, marking a significant step towards urban sustainability.

The launch event, organized by the Haryana Forest Department as part of Van Mahotsav 2025, was attended by Haryana Minister for Industries and Forest, Rao Narbir Singh, along with senior public representatives and state government officials. Describing the ‘Matri Van’ as a green legacy, Yadav emphasized that the forest would serve as the “heart and lung” for the entire Delhi NCR region. He thanked the Haryana government for allocating the land, currently covered with thorny bushes, and transforming it into a vibrant urban forest by planting tree species native to the Aravallis.

State-run telecom firm BSNL has signed a pact with public sector firm Numaligarh Refinery Limited for the deployment of the 5G private network in the refinery sector, an official statement said on Sunday.

The memorandum of understanding between the companies was signed during the "Industry 4.0 Workshop for CPSEs" organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance in Guwahati.

"Under this MoU, BSNL and NRL will collaborate to deploy India's first 5G CNPN (Captive Non-Public Network) within the refinery sector, ushering in a new era of secure, ultra-reliable, and real-time industrial connectivity. This initiative is a pioneering step in leveraging indigenous 5G infrastructure for mission-critical operations," the statement said.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta today launched a mass cleanliness drive, ‘Delhi Ko Koode Se Azadi campaign’, in the national capital. In a social media post, she described the campaign as a commitment to making Delhi clean and beautiful. The month-long initiative calls on all residents to join forces with the government to make Delhi clean, beautiful, and glorious. The Delhi CM said, every department of the Delhi government, including MLAs, councillors, and government employees, will actively participate in the drive. She emphasised that the campaign aims to ensure that every street, settlement, and market in Delhi is thoroughly cleaned.

In a move to enhance the safety and well-being of truck drivers during long-haul journeys, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has launched an ambitious initiative called ‘Apna Ghar’. The programme aims to provide comfortable and hygienic resting spaces for truckers across major highways in the country.

As of July 1, 2025, a total of 368 ‘Apna Ghar’ units with 4,611 beds have been set up by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) at retail fuel outlets along national and state highways. These facilities offer a range of services including dormitory accommodations, restaurants or dhabas, clean toilets, dedicated bathing areas, self-cooking spaces, and access to purified drinking water — all designed to improve the quality of life for truck drivers on the road.

The initiative has seen a positive response from the trucking community, with a growing number of bookings, app downloads, and user registrations on the dedicated ‘Apna Ghar’ mobile application. Feedback collected from users reflects widespread appreciation for the comfort and convenience these resting spaces provide.

The Indian Army has signed a contract worth Rs 223.95 crore with M/s Axiscades Aerospace and Technologies Private Limited for the procurement of 212 tank transporter trailers.

The agreement was signed on 1 August 2025 under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, in line with the ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

The trailers are designed to transport 50-ton tanks and other armoured vehicles. Each trailer is equipped with hydraulic and pneumatic loading ramps, as well as steerable and liftable axles.

Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, AVSM, NM, has assumed charge as the Controller Personnel Services (CPS) at the Indian Navy on July 31. On taking over the new responsibility, the senior officer paid homage at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, honouring the sacrifices of India’s brave soldiers.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1991, Vice Admiral Nair is a specialist in Communications and Electronic Warfare. Over his distinguished career spanning more than three decades, he has held several key command, operational, and staff appointments.

A Surface Warfare Officer, the Flag Officer’s sea tenures include service on INS Krishna, INS Kora, and INS Mysore. He has served as Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer and later as Fleet Communications Officer of the Western Fleet, during which he was awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff commendation for his contribution to the non-combatant evacuation of Indian nationals from Beirut during the Israel-Lebanon conflict in July 2006.