STATE NEWS
Asia Rugby U-20 Sevens Championship Comes to Bihar
• Bihar CM Nitish Kumar unveiled the mascot for the Asia Rugby U-20 (Sevens) Championship, set for August 9–10 in Rajgir.
• This marks Bihar’s first time hosting an international rugby event.
• Teams from nine Asian countries, including India, China, UAE, and Sri Lanka, will participate.
• The event follows the rugby sevens format with 7 players per team.
• The mascot, a rabbit named Ashoka, symbolizes speed and agility.
• Rahul Bose, actor and Rugby India President, attended the mascot launch.
India’s First Port-Based Green Hydrogen Plant at Kandla
• Kandla Port, Gujarat, now hosts India’s first indigenous green hydrogen plant at a port.
• Inaugurated on July 31, 2025, by Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the project was completed in just four months.
• Built by the Deendayal Port Authority, it supports India’s 2070 net-zero emissions goal.
• PM Modi hailed the launch on August 3 as a major green energy milestone.
Delhi Assembly Goes Fully Solar and Digital
• The Delhi Legislative Assembly became India’s first to run fully on solar power and adopt the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA).
• Launched before the August 4 Monsoon Session, the building now runs on a 500 kW rooftop solar system.
• NeVA enables real-time digital proceedings for better transparency and efficiency.
• CM Rekha Gupta and Speaker Vijender Gupta called it a model for future governance.
APPOINTMENTS
Sonali Mishra Becomes RPF’s First Woman Director General
• Sonali Mishra, a senior IPS officer from the 1993 batch, has created history by becoming the first woman Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in its 143-year existence.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has cleared her tenure until October 2026.
• Over her distinguished career, she has served with the CBI, BSF, and participated in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo.
• She also held leadership positions at top training institutions, including the MP Police Academy.
• Her service has been recognized with both the President’s Police Medal and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
NATIONAL NEWS
India Now World’s 2nd Largest Fish Producer
• India ranks second globally in fish production, announced by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh in Kolkata.
• Fish output doubled (103% rise) between 2013–14 and 2024–25.
• Boosted by schemes like PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and Kisan Credit Card.
• The sector supports over 14 million livelihoods, contributing 8% to global supply.
• A record ₹2,703.67 crore has been allocated for fisheries in the 2025–26 Budget.
