Govt may raise random drug testing of flight crew to 25%
- Government likely to increase random drug testing from 10% to 25% of flight crew.
- Air India announced it will screen all its pilots for psychoactive substances.
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Centre allots full onion buffer for retail as procurement lags
- Centre allots full onion buffer stock for direct retail intervention.
- Onion procurement is lagging, resulting in a smaller buffer available.
- Government conserved stocks for retail rather than releasing in wholesale mandis.
DoT to use subscriber photos to enforce nine-SIM limit
- 2012 subscriber verification guidelines set a nine-SIM limit per individual.
- The limit applies across all telecom operators.
US Envoy Calls J&K Important Part of India, May Ease Travel Advisory
- US Ambassador Sergio Gor called Jammu and Kashmir an 'important part of India' during his Srinagar visit.
- Pakistan summoned the US Chargu00e9 d'Affaires in Islamabad and protested citing UNSC resolutions.
- Gor met J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and discussed downgrading the travel advisory for the region.
Cabinet clears ₹3,591 crore NH-22 four-laning project in Bihar
- Union Cabinet approved u20b93,590.73 crore project to four-lane NH-22 from Muzaffarpur to Sonbarsa in Bihar.
- Project aims to boost connectivity to Nepal border.
- Cabinet also cleared four multitracking railway projects covering eight districts in West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
- Four rail projects will add 410 km to the railway network.
President Murmu signs Vande Mataram Bill, grants it National Anthem protection
- President Murmu gave assent to the Vande Mataram Bill.
- The bill grants Vande Mataram the same legal protection as the National Anthem.
- The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amends the 1971 Act.
- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned whether respect and patience can be legislated.
TN Assembly Passes Resolution Seeking NEET Abolition, Citing Social Justice
- Tamil Nadu assembly passed CM Vijay government's resolution opposing NEET.
- Resolution cites concerns over social justice, student welfare, and impact on poor, rural, backward students.
- State health minister KG Arunraj said NEET diverted students' focus from school curriculum to coaching.
- Coaching centres boom and charge huge fees, according to the report on NEET.
Search Intensifies for BRO Personnel, Scientific Probe Ordered in Chamoli
- Search continues for BRO personnel swept away in Chamoli flash flood.
- Government ordered a detailed scientific investigation of the flash flood on Tuesday.
- The flash flood led to a sudden surge of water.
Rahul Bansal, trainee IPS, in ₹1-crore bribe case; CBI court seeks report
- Trainee IPS officer Rahul Bansal is accused in a u20b91-crore bribe case linked to cyber fraud.
- The matter reached CBI court in Delhi, which sought action-taken reports.
- The court sought reports from Chhattisgarh DGP and CBI director.
India says will update on Hasina extradition request
- India's Jaiswal said 'will update when there is one' on Hasina extradition.
- Dhaka sought expediting Hasina's extradition at a meeting.
- The meeting was between PM Tarique Rahman and Indian envoy Dinesh Trivedi.
Farmers’ outfit criticises CWRC directive on Cauvery water release
- A farmers' outfit criticised a directive from the CWRC.
- The directive relates to release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
ICMR-NIN launches SHINE 2026 for school students
- ICMR-NIN has kicked off SHINE 2026.
- The programme is aimed at school students.
Second Phase of Pravasi Insurance Scheme for Expats Begins August 18
- The second phase of the Pravasi insurance scheme for expats will begin on August 18.
- The scheme is specifically meant for expats, as stated in the news headline.
M.P. Parameswaran, Nuclear Scientist and Marxist Theorist, Dies at 92
- M.P. Parameswaran was a renowned nuclear scientist and Marxist theorist.
- He died at the age of 92.
- He was an early and foremost member of Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad.
- His 'fourth world' ideas led to his expulsion from CPI(M) in 2004.
Two Tribal Representatives Included in State Wildlife Board for First Time
- In a first, two tribal representatives were included in the State Wildlife Board.
- The move aims at ensuring tribal participation in forest management.
- It seeks to integrate traditional wisdom of tribal communities into forest management.
Madurai joins statewide anti-drug pledge after CM Vijay launch
- Madurai joined a statewide mobilization against drugs.
- The Collector spearheaded the anti-drug pledge in Madurai.
- The pledge followed Chief Minister Vijay's launch of the campaign.
Velampeta to serve as blueprint for AP slum redevelopment
- Velampeta will be a blueprint for other slum redevelopment in Andhra Pradesh.
- Andhra Pradesh will adopt the Dharavi model for slum redevelopment.
Hundreds rally in Aizawl against FCRA amendment
- Hundreds rallied in Aizawl against the FCRA amendment.
- Council of Churches in Mizoram warned the Bill could allow seizure of assets.
- Assets of churches and NGOs with cancelled or non-renewed FCRA registrations at risk.
21 Tonnes of Gutkha Incinerated in Krishnagiri for Drug-Free Tamil Nadu
- 21 tonnes of gutkha were incinerated.
- The incineration marked the 'drug-free TN' campaign.
- The event took place in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu.
Kerala name change, co-op bills cleared without debate in Lok Sabha
- Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 and National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 were moved.
- Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai moved the Kerala name change bill.
- Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol moved the NCDC amendment bill.
- Both bills were cleared without debate as Lok Sabha deadlock continues.
Kerala HC stays order to PSC on mark details
- Kerala High Court stayed an information commission order.
- Order directed PSC to give mark details and personal info.
- Matter relates to a planning board post.
SHIFT Transport Coalition Launches Transport Analytics Hub
- SHIFT Transport Coalition launched a Transport Analytics Hub.
- The hub uses geospatial analytics and interactive visualisation tools.
- It helps users understand mobility patterns and compare cities.
- It assesses urban road networks using geospatial metrics.
AP Christian leaders urge Centre to withhold FCRA Amendment Bill
- APCLF leaders urged Centre to withhold proposed FCRA Amendment Bill in entirety.
- Representatives of FCRA-registered organisations also demanded the withholding.
- They also demanded a review of the functioning of FCRA Act, 2010.
AI main risk is erosion of human judgment: RBI Governor
- RBI Governor said the main risk of AI is erosion of human judgment.
- RBI Governor stated responsibility for a bank's decisions rests with the bank, not with its algorithm.