NATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi Becomes India’s Second Longest-Serving Leader
• As of July 25, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially served 4,078 consecutive days, moving past Indira Gandhi’s tenure and becoming India’s second longest-serving Prime Minister.
• The only person ahead of him is Jawaharlal Nehru, who held the post for over 16 years and 286 days.
• Modi is the first post-independence born leader to secure three consecutive terms as Prime Minister.
His leadership journey began on May 26, 2014, followed by electoral victories in 2014, 2019, and 2024.
• He remains the only non-Congress Prime Minister to complete two full terms and win a third.
• Before his national role, Modi was Gujarat’s longest-serving Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014.
• Under his command, the BJP secured 272 seats in 2014, followed by 303 in 2019, while the NDA retained power in 2024 despite BJP falling short of a majority.
• Modi now holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Prime Minister from outside the Congress party.
National Cooperation Policy 2025: A New Blueprint for Inclusive Growth
• Union Minister Amit Shah introduced the National Cooperation Policy 2025 in New Delhi, aiming to create five model cooperative villages in each tehsil across India.
• The policy targets the upliftment of farmers, tribal groups, women, and Dalits, and expands cooperatives into emerging sectors like tourism, clean energy, ride-hailing, and insurance.
• It proposes to triple the sector’s contribution to GDP by 2034 and bring 50 crore people into cooperative networks.
• Drafted by a 40-member committee chaired by Suresh Prabhu, this is the first major revision since 2002.
• Goals include a 30% increase in cooperative societies and ensuring at least one cooperative in every village.
• New initiatives like Sahkar Taxi, tech-enabled PACS, and professional cooperatives are also part of the plan.
• Emphasis is placed on youth participation, inclusion, and a revamped White Revolution for increased women’s involvement.
• A 10-year review system and the setup of National Cooperative Exports Ltd. aim to ensure long-term global relevance.
DEFENCE
‘Samudra Prachet’: Boosting Maritime Environmental Defence
• The Indian Coast Guard has added ‘Samudra Prachet’, the second and final Pollution Control Vessel, to its fleet, built with 72% indigenous content by Goa Shipyard Ltd.
• The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art systems including oil slick detection radars, side-sweeping arms, and pollutant recovery tanks.
• Measuring 114.5m in length and 16.5m in width, it displaces 4,170 tonnes and is designed for operation within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• A crew of 14 officers and 115 sailors will operate the ship, which can collect and store spilled oil while treating contaminated water onboard.
• The project saw the active participation of local industries and MSMEs, highlighting the Make in India effort.
• The launch ceremony was attended by DGICG Paramesh Sivamani, who underlined the growing importance of such vessels in protecting marine ecosystems.
• This ship follows the first PCV, launched in August 2024, which is scheduled for commissioning shortly.
• The initiative strengthens India’s coastal pollution response strategy and environmental protection mechanisms.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
India-China Border Dialogue Sees Renewed Engagement
• India and China convened the 34th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meeting in New Delhi, led by Gourangalal Das (India) and Hong Liang (China).
• The talks focused on maintaining peace and stability along the border and reviewed the progress made in earlier rounds of diplomatic dialogue.
• Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to regular interactions at diplomatic and military levels, using existing communication protocols.
• They discussed plans for the next Special Representatives’ Meeting, expected later this year in India.
• The talks occurred amidst the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China, first established on April 1, 1950.
• The Special Representatives mechanism, initiated in 2003, and WMCC talks post-2020, remain vital tools for resolving the boundary issue.
• A significant development was India’s decision to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals after a five-year suspension, allowing online applications.
• These diplomatic strides signal a measured thaw and continuity in dialogue between the two Asian powers.
