India Beat England by 6 Runs in Final Test, Series Ends 2–2

ByAjay Gulia 05/08/202505/08/2025

On 4 August 2025, India defeated England by 6 runs in a thrilling final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval, London, leveling the five-match series 2–2.

Chasing 374, England was bowled out for 367, with Mohammed Siraj starring for India by taking 9 wickets in the match, including 5 in the second innings. He was named Player of the Match.

India had scored 396 in their second innings, after trailing in the first. Shubman Gill (India) and Harry Brook (England) were named Players of the Series.

Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia Begin Their UNSC Term

New Non-Permanent Members of UNSC: Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia began their two-year term as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 1 January 2025.

Replacements: They replaced Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland.

Ceremony: A flag installation ceremony was held at the UN headquarters in New York, where the new members’ permanent representatives delivered speeches and installed their national flags outside the Security Council Chamber.

UNSC Composition: The UNSC has 15 members – 5 permanent members (United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, France – collectively known as the P5, with veto power) and 10 non-permanent members serving two-year terms.
India to Celebrate 11th International Day of Yoga with 10 Signature Events

India will commemorate the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, 2025, with ten Signature Events under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” These initiatives aim to expand yoga’s global outreach and reinforce its role in health, culture, and sustainable living.

Key Signature Events:

Yoga Sangam:
A nationwide synchronized yoga demonstration at over 1 lakh locations based on the Common Yoga Protocol; PM Modi to lead from Visakhapatnam.

Yoga Bandhan:
Promotes international collaboration, with Indian yoga experts visiting partner nations and foreign delegates participating in India’s IDY celebrations.

Yoga Park:
Transforms public parks into yoga zones in rural and urban areas, with trained instructors and self-practice materials.

Yoga Samavesh:
Offers specialized yoga modules for diverse groups like children, elderly, pregnant women, and those with lifestyle diseases.

Yoga Prabhav:
A research-based review of IDY’s 10-year impact on health, policy, and awareness, launched at the Yoga Connect summit.

Yoga Connect:
A global hybrid summit fostering dialogue, collaborations, and cultural exchange on making yoga globally relevant.

Harit Yoga:
Combines yoga with environmental actions like tree planting and cleanliness drives, linking wellness with sustainability.

Yoga Unplugged:
Designed for urban youth, using festivals, contests, and social media to make yoga engaging and contemporary.

Yoga Mahakumbh:
A festival-style yoga event in 10 Indian cities, each themed around issues like youth, inclusivity, and environment.

Samyoga:
Promotes integration of yoga with Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha, and modern medicine, aiming for holistic health interventions.
Inauguration of the Inland Waterways Transport Terminal at Jogighopa in Assam on Brahmaputra

The Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) Terminal on the Brahmaputra (National Waterway-2) at Jogighopa in Assam was inaugurated on February 18, 2025. The terminal, inaugurated by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Bhutan’s Minister of Finance, H.E. Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, is a state-of-the-art facility connected to the Multi-Modal Logistics Park.

This terminal is strategically located to serve as an international port of call for Bhutan and Bangladesh, enhancing logistics and cargo movement in Assam and the North East. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the inauguration, highlighting its role in improving infrastructure and promoting inland waterways for progress and prosperity.

The terminal is expected to handle a cargo of 1.1 million tonnes per annum by 2027, significantly boosting trilateral trade between India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The foundation stone for the terminal was laid by Prime Minister Modi in February 2021, and the project was implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at a cost of Rs 82.03 crore.
Six Years of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, launched on 24 February, 2019, has completed six years of providing financial assistance to farmers across India. This initiative, aimed at ensuring stability and enhancing crop production, has played a crucial role in reducing agricultural costs and improving farmers’ economic conditions.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, eligible farmers receive ₹6,000 annually, credited directly to their bank accounts in three installments of ₹2,000 each. This financial aid is transferred through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, eliminating middlemen and ensuring that the rightful benefits reach the farmers without any delays or discrepancies.

Over the past six years, the scheme has disbursed approximately ₹3.5 lakh crore to farmers’ accounts, benefiting millions of small and marginal farmers across the country. The 19th installment of the PM-KISAN financial assistance was recently released, providing over ₹22,000 crore to 9.8 crore farmers, including 2.41 crore female farmers.

The PM-KISAN scheme has not only provided financial support but has also brought respect, prosperity, and new strength to India’s food providers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and enhancing their livelihoods through various initiatives, including the PM-KISAN scheme.

In addition to the financial aid, the government has also dedicated 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to the country, further strengthening the support system for agricultural producers. The scheme has significantly contributed to reducing the cost of agriculture, increasing farmers’ access to the market, and improving their income.
India’s Industrial Growth Slows to 2.9% in February 2025: Mixed Sector Performance Noted
India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose 2.9% year-on-year in February 2025, showing moderate growth compared to 5.0% in January, as per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Sector-wise:
- Manufacturing (highest weight in IIP) grew 2.9%
- Electricity generation rose 3.6%
- Mining increased by 1.6%
Overall IIP stood at 151.3 in February, up from 147.1 last year.

Within manufacturing, 14 of 23 industry groups posted gains, led by:
- Basic metals: 5.8%
- Motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers: 8.9%
- Other non-metallic mineral products: 8%
Key drivers: auto components, alloy steel, cement, and prefabricated concrete blocks.

Use-based trends:
- Capital goods: +8.2%
- Infrastructure/construction goods: +6.6%
- Primary goods: +2.8%
- Consumer durables: +3.8%
- Consumer non-durables: -2.1%
The report included revised figures for January 2025 (first revision) and November 2024 (final), with 94% and 95% response rates respectively.

March 2025 IIP data will be released on April 28.
PM Modi inaugurates 38th National Games in Dehradun

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 38th National Games in Dehradun on January 28, 2025. The event, held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, marks the 25th anniversary of Uttarakhand’s formation and features over 10,000 athletes from across India.

The theme for this year’s games is “Green Games,” emphasizing sustainability with eco-friendly medals and a tree planted for each medal winner.

The National Games of India is a prestigious multi-sport event where athletes from various states and union territories compete in disciplines such as athletics, boxing, and swimming.