TODAY News on July 31, 2025

Source: The print media ( The Hindu, indian express and others) 

GSLV-F 16 successfully places NISAR satellite in orbit

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F16) successfully launches the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite into a 743-km sun-synchronous orbit on Wednesday (July 30, 2025). “The GSLV-F16 vehicle has successfully and precisely injected the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite weighing 2,393 kg into its intended orbit,” announced Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairperson of ISRO.

rump announces 25% tariffs, ‘plus a penalty’, for imports from India

Putting an end to months of speculation, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) announced that imports from India would attract 25% tariffs “plus a penalty” from August 1 onwards, citing India’s buying of energy and military equipment from Russia, India’s high tariffs, and its “strenuous and obnoxious” non-monetary barriers to trade. India and the U.S. have been engaged in discussions over a potential Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) since February, when a joint statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Trump stated that such a deal would be concluded by Fall 2025. while at the same time linking India’s membership to the BRICS group of countries as another reason for the penalty.

No local has joined terror groups in J&K in the last six months, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that in the past six months, no local had joined any terrorist group in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Those being killed in security operations in the Union Territory were all foreigners, he said. He said there should be no doubt that the three terrorists killed during Operation Mahadev on July 28 were the ones who carried out the Pahalgam terror attack, as the investigating agencies had matched their photos, and the evidence was backed by forensic reports.

Air India Group tops audit with 19 critical safety breaches; DGCA says ‘entirely normal’

An audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over the past year identified 19 findings against Air India Group airlines that needed immediate corrective action, while all other carriers recorded zero findings in this category. The regulator, though, claimed that a high number of audit observations was “entirely normal”. The data released by the DGCA on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) showed that its audit revealed 10 “level 1” findings against Vistara, seven against Air India, and two against Air India Express, all of which are part of the Air India Group. All other airlines recorded zero observations in this category.

Lok Sabha gives nod to statutory resolution approving extension of President’s Rule in Manipur

Lok Sabha passed a resolution approving extension of President’s Rule in Manipur by another six months beyond August 13, with the government asserting that peace is prevailing in the northeastern state. What can be a bigger proof of peace returning there than the fact that since President’s Rule was imposed, there has been only one fatality with no casualties in the last four months, Minister of State Nityanand Rai said.

U.S. sanctions hit Indian companies over Iran oil trade

The United States has imposed sanctions on at least half a dozen Indian companies accused of trading in Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals as part of broader action targeting 20 entities worldwide. The U.S. Department of State announced the sanctions on Wednesday (July 30, 2025), alleging the Indian firms knowingly engaged in “significant transactions” for the purchase and marketing of Iranian petroleum products, violating American sanctions on Iran.

All patients to register with ABHA ID, says NMC to all medical colleges and institutes

To ensure that authentic patient records are maintained by medical colleges, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has written to them directing that Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID should be recorded along with patient registration in the hospital. The ABHA card contains a unique 14-digit identification number called ABHA ID. The entire medical history, consultation details, and prescriptions are included in the ABHA ID. However, NMC maintained that no patient should be denied treatment without the ABHA lD.

Focus on practical not ‘paper’ measures for Israel-Palestine two-state solution: India at the U.N.

India joined the call for Israel to end the war in Gaza and ensure access to food, for Hamas to return hostages, and for U.N. members to recognise the Statehood of Palestine at a United Nations conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, but stayed on the sidelines of the major working groups formed. In a speech Indian Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said that in 1988, India was one of the first countries to recognise the Palestinian state, and it is now time to focus on the steps required for practical solutions, not “paper solutions” to help the situation.

Indian statement on Pahalgam attackers ‘replete with fabrications’, says Pakistan

Home Minister Amit Shah’s account of forces killing who he said were three Pakistanis involved in the April attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir was “replete with fabrications”, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said. Mr. Shah told Parliament on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) that the three militants killed in a gun battle in a Kashmir forest this week were the perpetrators of the April 22 Pahalgam attack and that New Delhi had found evidence to back it. “Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless assertions and provocative claims made by the Indian leaders during the Lok Sabha debate on the so-called “Operation Sindoor.”

Kerala nuns arrest: Durg court disposes of bail plea citing lack of jurisdiction

A sessions court in Durg, Chhattisgarh disposed of the bail application of the arrested Christian nuns from Kerala, observing that it does not have the jurisdiction to hear cases under Section 143 of BNS (human trafficking), according to the lawyer for the two nuns. The court added that they may have to move to an NIA court for further legal action.

India, UAE agree to elevate defence ties

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation during the 13th India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting, held at the Secretary level for the first time, in New Delhi. The two sides agreed to elevate defence ties to match the growing momentum in areas such as trade, investment, and social relations, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Pahalgam terror attack: UNSC monitoring report mentions TRF

The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, has found mention for the first time in a UN Security Council (UNSC) report for its role in the Pahalgam attack, a move expected to bolster India's diplomatic offensive against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism. The report by the UNSC's Monitoring Team (MT) quoted one unnamed member state as saying that the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir could not have happened without Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) support and that there was a relationship between the "LeT and The Resistance Front (TRF).

Bihar govt announces hike in incentive for rural health workers ahead of Assembly polls

Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that ASHA workers in the State will now get ₹3,000 per month as an incentive, a substantial increase from the existing amount of ₹1,000. He also doubled the incentive of Mamta health workers from ₹300 per delivery. The decision to increase their incentives was taken in view of the contributions of ASHA and Mamta workers to strengthen health services in rural areas, the CM wrote on social media.

Eviction drive under way for second day in Assam to clear encroachment on 1,500 hectares of forest land

“A massive eviction drive to clear alleged encroachment on nearly 1,500 hectares of forest land in Assam’s Golaghat district continued for the second day on Wednesday (July 30, 2025),” officials said. “The exercise, once completed, will displace around 1,500 families, mostly from the Muslim community,” they added. The eviction drive started on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) to uproot illegal settlements on almost 11,000 bighas (nearly 1,500 hectares) of land in the Rengma Reserve Forest in Uriamghat along the Assam-Nagaland border in Sarupathar sub-division.

Supreme Court questions Justice Varma’s conduct, says he moved the apex court only after in-house inquiry results became ‘unpalatable’

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) questioned the conduct of Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, saying he had moved the Supreme Court against the in-house inquiry procedure initiated by former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna only after the outcome of the probe had become “unpalatable” for him. The report of an in-house inquiry committee of three judges had confirmed the presence of ‘burnt currency’ in a gutted outhouse at Justice Varma’s residential premises in New Delhi after a fire in mid-March. The in-house inquiry, appointed by the then Chief Justice Khanna, had recommended his removal. Chief Justice Khanna had forwarded the report to the President and Prime Minister in May, seconding the recommendation of the inquiry panel.

Hawaii, Japan downgrade last tsunami alert

Hawaii and parts of Japan have downgraded their tsunami warnings to advisories after a powerful earthquake. One of the strongest quakes ever recorded struck Russia’s Far East early on Wednesday. It sent tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and across the Pacific. No substantial damage has been reported so far, but authorities warned people away from shorelines and said the risk could last more than a day. Japan’s Meteorological Agency downgraded its tsunami alert to an advisory in the Pacific coast south of Fukushima, with the alert still in place farther north.

Russian missiles hit Ukrainian army training ground, killing at least 3 soldiers

A Russian missile hit a Ukrainian army training ground, killing three soldiers and wounding 18 others, authorities said, in the latest attack to embarrass military officials as they struggle to make up a severe manpower shortage in the nearly three-and-a-half-year war. The Russian Defence Ministry said that the strike killed or wounded about 200 Ukrainian troops. The Ministry said that Ukraine’s 169th training centre near Honcharivske in the Chernihiv region was hit with two Iskander missiles, one armed with multiple submunitions and another with high explosives.

WCL semifinal: Indian Champions refuse to play against Pakistan

India have refused to play against arch-rivals Pakistan in the semifinals of the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham on Thursday, citing the nation’s stand against any bilateral sporting ties with the neighbouring country after the gruesome Pahalagam terror attack. The Indian team which includes legends like Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina among others have already expressed their unwillingness to play against Pakistan following the terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor launched by India.