NEWS 31-07-2025. News For 1st-Aug (Friday) *National News* 1. PM Narendra Modi has become the second-longest consecutively serving PM in India’s history, surpassing Dr. Manmohan Singh. As of July 2025, only Jawaharlal Nehru served longer without a break. 2. India successfully tested its first hydrogen-powered train coach at Chennai, signaling a major step forward in green transportation. 3. Madhya Pradesh govt has launched a new initiative under which unemployed youth will receive monthly stipends of ?6,000 for women and ?5,000 for men—to support their participation in industrial internships for skill development. *DEFENCE News* 1. India has developed a powerful conventional bunker-buster missile based on the Agni-V ballistic missile, weighing around 7,500 kg. This missile is designed to penetrate fortified underground targets up to 80 to 100 meters deep. 2. IAF fighter squadron strength is going to reduce to 29 squadrons from October 2025. This brings it closer to Pakistan’s 25 squadrons, & China’s fleet of 66 squadrons. 3. India and Russia are set to revive the BrahMos 2K hypersonic missile project based on Russia’s Zircon missile. The final approval is expected during President Putin’s visit to India in Sep '25. 4. The 14th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, the India–Singapore joint military exercise, began on 27th July 2025 and will continue till August 4, 2025, at Jodhpur, Rajasthan. 5. DRDO has conducted two consecutive successful flight tests of the Pralay missile validating the missile’s maximum and minimum range capabilities. *INTERNATIONAL* 1. PM Modi presided as the chief guest of Maldive's 60th Independence Day Parade. Both the nations signed 4 MOU & 3 agreements covering various sectors. India has extended a Line of credit worth ?4,850 crore to the Maldives. 2. India & UK have signed FTA, which is projected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually. 3. In Russia, a series of powerful earthquakes struck near the eastern coast, with the strongest tremor recorded at magnitude 7.4. 4. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will officially recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. 5. China has planned to supply its GJ-11 “Sharp Sword” stealth drones to Pakistan by 2033. *SPORTS* 1. India’s Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup title, by defeating fellow Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in the final held at Georgia. 2. India will host the prestigious FIDE World Cup 2025, scheduled from 30 Oct to 27 November. 3. At the 2025 FISU World University Games, held in Germany, India finished 20th in the medal tally, winning 2 gold, 5 silver, & 5 bronze. Japan topped the medal table. < < Back