APPOINTMENTS

Justice Aradhe and Justice Pancholi Join Supreme Court, Taking Strength to 34

• Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Manubhai Pancholi were sworn in as Supreme Court judges.

• Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai administered the oath at the Supreme Court premises.

• With their induction, the apex court has reached its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the CJI.

• The Supreme Court Collegium proposed their elevation on August 25, which received approval from the Centre two days later, on August 27.

• Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, Justice Aradhe served as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

• Justice Pancholi, previously Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, is in line to become CJI in October 2031.

• Justice B. V. Nagarathna dissented on Pancholi’s appointment, citing concerns, and is set to become India’s first woman CJI in September 2027.

RANKING AND INDEX

2024 State Energy Efficiency Index Highlights State-Level Progress

• The Ministry of Power released the 2024 SEEI to track and boost state-wise energy efficiency.

• This sixth edition emphasizes real-world implementation with 66 performance indicators.

• It assesses energy use across seven sectors, including buildings, transport, agriculture, and power distribution.

• The Index evaluated 36 States and UTs based on data from the 2023–24 fiscal year.

• Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura emerged as top performers.

• States were grouped into four categories: Front Runners, Achievers, Contenders, and Aspirants.

• SEEI 2024 promotes healthy competition, structured monitoring, and the sharing of best practices across states.

UDISE+ 2024-25: Key Insights into India’s Evolving School Education System

• India’s school teacher count has crossed 1 crore for the first time, reflecting a 6.7% increase since 2022-23.

• Around 15 lakh schools are currently serving over 24 crore students across the country.

• Nearly 50% of students study in government schools, 41% in private, and the rest in aided institutions.

• Women now form 54.3% of the teaching workforce, while girls account for 48.3% of total enrolments.

• Pupil-teacher ratios have improved: 10 at Foundational, 13 at Preparatory, 17 at Middle, and 21 at Secondary level.

• Student retention, enrolment, and dropout rates have shown steady improvement across all levels.

• Government initiatives are reducing single-teacher and zero-enrolment schools, making education more inclusive and learner-centric.

ECONOMY NEWS

India’s Fiscal Deficit Reaches 29.9% of FY26 Goal by End of July

• By the end of July 2025, India's fiscal deficit touched 29.9% of the full-year target, according to data from the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) released on August 29.

• In contrast, during the same period in FY 2024–25, the deficit stood at just 17.2% of the annual estimate.

• At the close of Q1 (April–June), the deficit had already reached 17.9% of the current fiscal’s target.

• The government reported a fiscal gap of ₹4.68 lakh crore between April and July this year.

• The projected fiscal deficit for the entire FY 2025–26 is ₹15.69 lakh crore, equivalent to 4.4% of GDP.

• The steep increase indicates either a surge in government expenditure or a lag in revenue inflows during the initial months of the fiscal year.

India Posts 7.8% GDP Growth in Q1 FY26, Fastest Pace in Five Quarters

• The Indian economy expanded by 7.8% in the first quarter of FY 2025-26 (April–June), recording its highest growth rate in over a year.

• This is the third straight quarter of rising GDP growth, showing a continued economic uptrend.

• The latest figure is 43 basis points higher than the March quarter and 1.3 percentage points above last year’s Q1 growth of 6.5%.

• The 7.8% growth beat market estimates, with a Bloomberg poll projecting only 6.7%.

• Agriculture saw a notable boost, growing 3.7% compared to 1.5% in the same period last year.

• Industrial output rose by 7%, while the services sector led with a strong 9.3% expansion.

• As per data from the Ministry of Statistics, nominal GDP also rose by 8.8% during this quarter.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES

BioFach India 2025 Kicks Off in Greater Noida, Showcasing Organic Growth and Farmer Empowerment

• The 17th BioFach India is being held from August 30 to September 1, 2025, at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, with a strong focus on organic agriculture.

• Organized with the support of the Union Ministry of Agriculture, the fair stands as one of the country’s largest platforms for organic trade.

• Over 27 FPOs from the North-East, backed by MOVCDNER, are showcasing organic items like turmeric, ginger, cardamom, millets, and GI-tagged produce.

• The event aims to boost market access and visibility for small farmers in both domestic and global organic markets.

• Stakeholders including policymakers, traders, businesses, and international buyers are attending to explore opportunities in the organic sector.

• MOVCDNER, launched in 2015-16, supports organic farming through assistance in production, certification, processing, and marketing.

• The initiative promotes sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture by directly connecting farmers with buyers to enhance their income and stability.

SPORTS

India Announces 73-Member Squad for First-Ever World Para Athletics Championships at Home

• India is set to host the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time, taking place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, from September 27 to October 5.

• A total of 73 athletes, including 19 women, will represent the country at this prestigious global event.

• Javelin ace and Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil will headline the Indian contingent.

• Notable omissions from the squad include decorated high jumpers Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar.

• Paralympic club throw champion Dharambir Nain and bronze-winning sprinter Preethi Pal will lead as flag bearers in the opening ceremony.

• The announcement reflects India's growing stature in para sports and its readiness to host a world-class event.

NATIONAL NEWS

Bharat Buildcon 2026 to Showcase Indian Building Sector on Global Stage

• Bharat Buildcon, an international trade fair for building materials, will be held in New Delhi from April 29 to May 2, 2026.

• The event is expected to draw over 30,000 Indian participants and 1,000 international buyers from around 100 countries.

• At the Curtain Raiser, Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the fair as a platform uniting global buyers, local businesses, and government bodies.

• He emphasized its value as a gateway for Indian companies to gain global exposure.

• The Minister reaffirmed government backing for industries navigating current economic challenges.

• He urged Indian businesses to focus on self-reliance and building global competitiveness.