Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) has marked a major engineering milestone with the successful fabrication and launch of a multi-span double lane modular bridge in Ladakh. The 280-foot-long bridge (2x140 feet spans) was launched at KM 72.625 on the strategic Phobrang-Marshimik-La Hot-Spring Road and handed over to Project Himank of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on July 10.

This is the first time in India that a multi-span double lane modular bridge of this scale has been launched, that too in just 20 days, in one of the most remote and high-altitude terrains of the country. The bridge has been built in an area marked by extreme weather and rugged geography, underlining GRSE’s engineering excellence and commitment to supporting national infrastructure in forward areas.

Designed to bolster military logistics and improve troop and equipment mobility for the Indian Army, the bridge is a major step in reinforcing border connectivity in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Government of India has approved the Ministry of Power's proposal to rehire Shri Gurdeep Singh as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NTPC Limited. He will serve on a contract basis for one year after his retirement date, starting August 1, 2025, or until a regular successor takes over, or until further notice, whichever comes first.

Defence PSU, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) receives first set of wing assemblies for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, produced by Larsen & Toubro in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on July 17, 2025.

CMD, HAL Dr DK Sunil has stated that this handover is a testament to years of dedicated hand-holding and a shared commitment to excellence from HAL and L&T.

“HAL is working with suppliers, both large and SMEs, as an initiative towards achieving Aatmanirbharta in the aerospace and defence sector. HAL has effectively built a parallel aircraft structural assembly line in the private sector which will help in capacity augmentation of the LCA Tejas program,” he said

Nepal has received a foreign aid commitment of Rs. 273.04 billion for the Fiscal Year 2024/25, which is above the annual estimates announced in the budget of the same year. Statistics from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) showed that the country received the commitments of Rs. 215.54 billion for loans and Rs. 57.50 billion for grants.

Nepal’s development partners (DPs) in the year are the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK, Germany, the European Union, China, Norway, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Switzerland, World Vision International, Japan and the Strategic Climate Fund. The commitments Nepal received were in infrastructure, transport, environment and climate, governance, disaster management, agriculture and irrigation, water and education.

With commitments in the environment of above Rs. 118 billion, ADB has emerged as the largest development partner for Nepal. The World Bank remains the second-largest development partner for Nepal, with about Rs. 100 billion in aid commitment. It is supporting road improvements, disaster resilience, GRID, bridge improvement and trade improvement

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal today launched the Assistance For Development of Energy Effcient Technologies in Industrial Establishment Scheme, ADEETIE,  in Panipat, Haryana. The scheme aims to boost energy efficiency nationwide by offering interest subsidies on loans to help MSMEs adopt energy-efficient technologies. The Union Minister said that the main objective of the scheme is to benefit industrial units, especially those in the MSME sector. He added that the launch of this scheme comes at a time of significant change in the country. The Minister also stated that the scheme will help reduce industrial costs and promote environmental protection.

To tap into the expertise of retired scientists, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) — the newly constituted body for funding scientific research — has announced the Prime Minister Professorships.

Each selected Professor will receive an annual fellowship of ₹30 lakh, along with ₹24 lakh as a research grant for consumables, domestic travel, contingencies, equipment and other expenses. An overhead of ₹1 lakh per annum has also been provisioned.

The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), now subsumed under the ANRF, had earlier administered the SERB Distinguished Fellowship for retired scientists. That scheme offered a research grant of ₹20 lakh per annum and a monthly fellowship of ₹60,000.

Nelson Mandela International Day commemorates the birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president.

The day honours Mandela’s remarkable legacy, as he led a nonviolent and resilient resistance against the oppressive apartheid regime, reflecting South Africa’s bold campaign against colour bias and injustice.

He was South Africa’s first democratically elected president, serving from 1994 to 1999. Mandela’s brave 27-year prison fight and mission to protect human rights and advocate for social justice and equality for people throughout the world.

Yulia Svyrydenko, a 39-year-old economist and experienced technocrat, has been confirmed as Ukraine’s new prime minister in a major wartime cabinet reshuffle. Backed by President Zelensky, she brings years of public service — from regional economic leadership to First Deputy PM — and pledges decisive action to boost domestic defense production, audit public finances, and accelerate privatization. Her appointment signals a push to revitalize Ukraine’s military-industrial capacity and stabilize the economy amid ongoing war and a looming budget shortfall.

As Russia escalates its offensive, she faces immediate pressure to meet Zelensky’s target of producing 50% of Ukraine’s battlefield needs domestically. Svyrydenko has vowed swift fiscal reforms, deeper ties with allies, and expanded support for entrepreneurs.

Renowned actors Kranti Prakash Jha and Neetu Chandra have been nominated as state-level SVEEP icons by the Bihar Election Department. This nomination is a significant initiative aimed at strengthening the SVEEP campaign through voter awareness.

It is significant to note that actors Kranti Prakash Jha and Neetu Chandra will play an active role in various voter education and awareness activities in the state. Both celebrities will play an important role in connecting voters to the election process through various means under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation) program.

Notably, the proposal for their nomination has received formal approval from the Election Commission of India.

Gujarat has become the largest producer of processed potatoes used to make crispy items like French fries and wafers, a press release said.

India, which once imported French fries, has now not only started cultivating the specific potato variety required but has also begun exporting French fries to global markets. The country is producing large quantities of processed potatoes used to make crispy items like French fries and wafers, according to the release by Gujarat CMO.

In 2004-05, the production of processed potatoes was less than one lakh tonne and was cultivated in just 4,000 hectare. In two decades, the production of the breed increased by over 10 times to 11.50 lakh tonnes in about 37,000 hectares. The area of production also increased by nine times.