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Headlines

8 August 2025

Govt Approves Rs 12,000 Cr Targeted LPG Subsidy for Ujjwala Yojana in 2025-26

  • The government has approved the continuation of targeted subsidies for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana consumers for the year 2025-26 with the estimated cost of over 12 thousand crore rupees.

  • Also, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said, the government also approved four new components under the existing central sector scheme of special development packages for Assam and Tripura with a total outlay of four thousand 250 crore rupees.

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Ujjwala Yojana

  • Launched: May 1, 2016

  • Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

  • Objective: To provide clean cooking fuel (LPG) to rural and underprivileged households in India, reducing health hazards from traditional cooking methods (like firewood, coal, and cow dung).

Key Features:

  • Free LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.

  • Financial support of ₹1,600 per connection (includes the cost of a cylinder, pressure regulator, booklet, and safety hose).

  • EMI option for purchasing a stove and first refill.

  • Beneficiaries identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.

  • Expanded in PMUY 2.0 (launched in August 2021) to include migrants and non-SECC families and offer first refill and stove free.

Impact:

  • Over 9 crore LPG connections distributed.

  • Significant reduction in indoor air pollution.

  • Empowerment of rural women by improving health and reducing cooking time.

Benefits:

  • Promotes clean energy and environmental sustainability.

  • Helps in women’s empowerment and improves public health.

  • Reduces dependence on traditional biomass fuels.

ICMR Launches SHINE Program to Inspire Next Generation of Health Scientists

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Health Research organized a nationwide student outreach program on Science and Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers (SHINE).

The initiative aims to introduce students to the field of health and biomedical research, and to motivate young leaders to pursue careers in the field of science and public health.

Vietnam top leader To Lam hails Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India

  • Hailing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam appreciated the positive development of relations between the two countries in various fields, during his meeting with the Indian Ambassador Sandeep Arya in Hanoi.

 

About Vietnam

  • Capital: Hanoi

  • Location: Southeast Asia, on the eastern edge of the Indochinese Peninsula

Neighbouring Countries:

  • China (north)

  • Laos (northwest)

  • Cambodia (southwest)

  • Eastern coastline on the South China Sea

President: Tô Lâm

Prime Minister: Phạm Minh Chính

India to participate in 38th Bogota International Book Fair 2026 as ‘Guest of Honour

  • India will be participating in the 38th Bogota International Book Fair (FILBo) 2026 as a ‘Guest of Honour’ country, marking a new chapter in the people-to-people connect between the two nations.

  • Since 1988, the Colombian Book Chamber and Corferias have organised the Bogota International Book Fair, an alliance that has positioned the cultural event as one of the most important in the Spanish-speaking world. India’s National Book Trust showcased a collective exhibit of books from India for the first time at the 37th Bogota International Book Fair 2025 held from April 25 to May 11, this year.

Pink Sugar

Goddess Sita temple inaugrated at Punaura Dham, Bihar

  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will lay the foundation stone of the grand temple dedicated to Goddess Sita this afternoon at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district of Bihar. Mr. Shah will also flag off the Sitamarhi-New Delhi Amrit Bharat Express train via video conferencing from Sitamarhi.

  • This will provide a direct rail link between New Delhi and Sitamarhi via several important places of Bihar. 

  • The Philippines President Ferdinand Romnaldez Marcos Jr has sought greater partnership with India to build prosperity and growth in Asia.

  • He was addressing the Philippines-India Business forum in Bengaluru. He spoke of six priority sectors for long term collaboration in the areas of Electric vehicles, advanced electronics, renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare and cyber security.

  • He informed that the Philippines will pursue preferential trade agreements with India to enhance two way trade, encourage product diversification and supply chain integration.

Philippines President identifies  six priority sectors for long term collaboration with India

South Korea has launched a task force aimed at establishing a next-generation power grid that will use artificial intelligence to improve efficiency in the power supply. The envisioned next-generation power grid will make use of AI technology to effectively supply renewable energy without the massive construction of new infrastructure amid soaring demand for electricity sparked by technological development. It will also promote efficient power use and enhance the country’s power security. The task force was formed after President Lee Jae Myung called last week for efforts to create an intelligent power grid that connects the entire nation with optimal power generation, storage and consumption.

  • Capital: Seoul

  • Location: East Asia, on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula

  • Neighbouring Countries:

    • North Korea (land border to the north)

    • Nearby: China and Japan (maritime neighbors)

  • President: Yoon Suk Yeol

  • Prime Minister: Han Duck-soo

South Korea Launches Task Force To Establish Next-Gen Power Grid

Israeli Cabinet Approves PM Netanyahu’s Proposal To Occupy Gaza City

 Israel’s security cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to occupy Gaza City. The Cabinet has also adopted five principles for ending the war in Gaza which includes, disarming of Hamas, return of all the hostages – the living and the dead, demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli security control in Gaza and establishment of a civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

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  • Capital: Jerusalem

  • Location: Middle East, on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea

  • Neighbouring Countries:

    • Lebanon (north)

    • Syria (northeast)

    • Jordan (east)

    • Egypt (southwest)

    • Shares borders with Palestinian territories: West Bank and Gaza Strip

  • President: Isaac Herzog

  • Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu

  • The Assam government has intensified its efforts to eliminate child marriage by 2026. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently launched the second edition of the ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme. This initiative aims to protect over 400,000 girls from early marriage and support their education across the state.

  • Date of Relaunch: July 12, 2024

  • Original Scheme Launched: September 2023

  • Department: Assam Education Department

  • Target Group: Girls studying in government schools and provincialized schools from Class 11 to Post-Graduation

Objective:

To empower girl students in Assam through direct financial support to reduce school dropouts, promote higher education, and ensure gender equity in education.

Key Features of ‘Nijut Moina 2.0’:

  • Financial Assistance:

    • ₹1,000 per month for each girl student.

    • Amount is credited directly to the student's bank account via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).

  • Eligibility:

    • Must be a girl student enrolled in Class 11 to Postgraduate level in government/provincialized institutions.

    • Must belong to permanent resident families of Assam.

    • Must have active bank accounts and regular attendance.

  • Coverage:

    • Aims to benefit over 10 lakh girl students.

    • Open to students from all communities, not limited by caste, religion, or economic background.

  • Goals and Benefits:

  • Reduce drop-out rates among girls, especially in higher secondary and college levels.

  • Encourage girls to pursue higher education and skill development.

  • Improve gender equality in education.

  • Tackle early marriage by keeping girls in schools and colleges longer.

 Assam has historically faced challenges with female literacy and early marriages. Nijut Moina' (meaning "One Million Girls" in Assamese) symbolizes a mass movement towards female education and empowerment.

‘Nijut Moina 2.0’ Scheme

India’s Annu Rani Wins Gold In Women’s Javelin Throw

  • India’s Annu Rani has won gold medal in the women’s javelin throw at the International Wiesław Maniak Memorial in Poland with a season-best effort of 62.59 meter. The 32-year-old and Asian Games champion started strong, throwing 60.96m in her first attempt further with a 62.59m throw in her second attempt and ended with another solid 60.07m throw. Turkey’s Eda Tugsuz won silver with a 58.36m throw, while Australia’s Lianna Davidson took bronze with 58.24m.

  • In other events, India’s Pooja placed third in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:02.95. 

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