NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||31—07—2026

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||31—07—2026

FRYDAY| VOL—IV/2026/JULY

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

न गतं कर्तुं कश्चिद् धनवान्,

परिश्रमेण तु भविष्यं लभ्यते।

No one is rich enough to buy the past; but with effort, the future can be won.

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS) to review the situation in the context of on-going West Asia conflict and measures taken by various Ministries and Departments.

Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on 29 July 2026. The Bill amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and extends legal protection to the national song, Vande Mataram, alongside the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

Polling concluded peacefully for by-elections to three Assembly constituencies in Bihar, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh yesterday. Voting was held for Bankipur constituency in Bihar, Manjalpur in Gujarat, and Datia in Madhya Pradesh.

Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory in view of Kanwar Yatra, special traffic arrangements in the Southern Range till the 11th of next month.

In conformity with the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the state government of West Bengal will implement a new syllabus for government and government-aided schools in the state. The new syllabus will come into force in 2028, and some revisions will be made to the syllabus in 2027.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has announced a major reform in India’s national accounting system by replacing the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with the Output Producer Price Index (PPI) as the GDP deflator for quarterly and annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates, wherever applicable. The move aims to improve the accuracy of real GDP estimation.

Chhattisgarh Government has launched Decentralised Women Empowerment on Energy and Policy for Transformative Inclusion (DWEEPTI) Yojana, India's first women-led distributed renewable energy policy.

GEN-Z:

Ø  16 JIHADI MUSLIM तिलचट्टा (COCKROACHES) were arrested on various anti-state activity charges, but Bankshal court released them on BAIL. However- legal action will continue.

Ø  One तिलचट्टा burned a photo of MODI, light a cigarette, and posted in social media. He was arrested . His father—publicly apologized.

Ø  Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitr (Sometimes actress, sometimes socialite)  is facing multiple legal cases and police summonses across West Bengal for allegedly carrying a derogatory and distasteful caricature poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a student protest rally in Kolkata. Specific Legal Charges (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita - BNS)

Ø  Following a primary complaint lodged by BJP spokesperson Keya Ghosh, the Kolkata Police registered a formal First Information Report (FIR) at the Anandapur Police Station (Case No. 302).

Ø  The specific criminal sections invoked against her include: Section 352: Intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace.

Ø  Section 353(2): Making statements conducing to public mischief or inciting a community. Section 356(3): Criminal defamation.

Ø  Current Status and Police Notices--Multiple FIRs Filed: Beyond Kolkata, separate complaints and FIRs have been lodged in various districts, including the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station and police stations in Siliguri and Malda.

Ø  Summons Issued: Mitra has received at least six to seven official police notices in short order, demanding that she appear in person for questioning at different jurisdictions—some situated over 300 km away from her Kolkata  residence.

Ø   The Delhi Government has said that Delhi Police will not take any legal adverse action against individuals who participated in the NEET (UG) Protest Demonstrations in the national capital, but those with criminal backgrounds will have to face action.

Ø  JANTAR—MANTAR is QUIET! PAPPU is only still pumped up!!

BENGAL FILES:

The West Bengal general administration has undergone significant systemic updates, driven by the newly elected state government under Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari. The reforms heavily prioritize digital modernization, institutional restructuring, and severe anti-corruption protocols within the Personnel and Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department.

1.      The "West Bengal Impact AI Mission" & Paperless Governance: Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta introduced a foundational blueprint for state-level technological integration.

2.      Paperless Bureaucracy: The mission outlines a strict roadmap to phase out physical file handling across all state secretariat departments, shifting entirely to secure digital platforms.

3.      Hyper-scale Cloud Infrastructure: The state is setting up incentives to attract AI-focused data centers and cloud computing facilities to host decentralized governance data securely.

4.      General Consent for CBI Probes Reinstated: The state government officially restored general consent for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate central government employees and public sector undertaking (CPSU) staff working within the state.

5.      To maintain balanced federal checks, investigations involving state government employees still require explicit, case-by-case written clearance from the P&AR department.

6.      Police Modernisation via the Dedicated "AI Cell" --Headquartered at Bhawani Bhawan, Kolkata, a specialized Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cell has been formed under the direct administrative control of the Director General of Police.

7.      Leadership Structure: Supervised by an officer holding the rank of Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, supported by an Inspector General (IG) and two external technical tech specialists.

8.      Core Mandate: Developing predictive AI toolsets for localized crime forecasting, smarter urban traffic control, automated emergency dispatch, and strict data privacy compliance frameworks.

9.      Language Policy Shifts Mandatory Official Communications: Starting September 1, 2026, Bengali will become compulsory for all standard intra-state government administration and communications.

10.  Inter-State & Central Correspondence: Official communication targeting other state lines will transition to Bengali, while files moving to the Union Government will be submitted using a bilingual format of Hindi and Bengali.

11.  Compensation & Age Structural Changes--Massive DA Increase: While presenting the state budget, the government sanctioned a 20 percentage-point hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR), raising the rate from 18% to 38% for state employees and pensioners. This adjustment takes effect on October 1, 2026.

12.  Personnel Age Reforms: Under an ongoing structural cleansing drive, the Chief Minister’s office decided to systematically terminate extensions and end services for personnel serving past the age of 60 within state boards and department committees to pave the way for younger recruits.

WORLD: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

Protests continued in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) today following a brutal crackdown by Pakistani security forces on civilians earlier this week, which left more than 40 people dead. Local authorities in the occupied region have now allegedly begun targeting women protesters demanding basic rights.

China established high-altitude drone testing and research facilities in Tibet in 2025 and 2026, including a testing base in Ngari and a Plateau Drone R&D Application Centre at Xizang University near Mount Everest. These facilities are located on the Tibetan Plateau, where low oxygen levels, cold temperatures, rugged terrain, and rapidly changing weather create conditions for unmanned aerial vehicle testing.

The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has killed more than 1,500 people in eastern Congo so far. According to official data released by the Congolese government, the death toll has risen by 50 per cent in about a week, indicating that the outbreak continues to outpace response efforts.

In the United States, a man has been convicted of federal terrorism charges in connection with the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie, the author who has faced a decades-old death threat over his novel The Satanic Verses. USA is not far ahead of India in time schedule while delivering JUSTICE!!

GULF WAR:

US President Donald Trump says his Gaza Board of Peace has reached an agreement to disarm Hamas and all other armed groups in the enclave, and that Israel would withdraw from Gaza in phases.

A member of the Hamas delegation has told Al Jazeera that all implementation would be conditioned on Israel implementing its part of the deal.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted US bases in Kuwait and Jordan after US forces bombed a building on Qeshm Island, killing a couple and their two-year-old child. Explosions were also reported on Kish Island, in Bushehr and across four locations in Khuzestan, while three IRGC members were killed in a US strike on Zanjan province.

Iraq’s prime minister has denied foreknowledge of US-Saudi attacks on Iran-aligned armed groups in the country, after the Iraqi military said there was no evidence the attacks were launched from its territory.

Saudi Arabia has announced a 14-member maritime defence alliance to protect shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

GAZA SHALL BE A PART OF ISRAEL—PALESTINIANS MAY LIVE THERE PEACEFULLY.THAT CAN BE THE ONLY SOLUTION. MULLAHS WILL NOT AGREE.

CRIME & PUNISHMENT:

The Indian government has dismissed 11 road ministry officials following structural failures across 19 National Highway projects over the past two years, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari informed Rajya Sabha.  Seven of the 19 affected projects are located in Kerala, whilst other failures occurred across Gujarat, Rajasthan and several additional states.

CBI opposes bail of IAS officer Pankaj Agarwal, alleges role in Rs 657 crore bank scam:  The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the CBI Special Court, Haryana, on Thursday that IAS officer Pankaj Agarwal functioned as a close associate of the mastermind of the Rs 657 crore scam, Ribhav Rishi, and received monetary and “unethical” benefits from him.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) suspended the nutraceutical licence of Dior Pharmaceuticals on 30 July 2026. The suspension order followed findings of serious violations and deficient good manufacturing practices at the company’s nutraceutical plant in Punjab.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted searches at sixteen locations in Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Mumbai in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to the alleged terror funding of the 2022 Coimbatore bomb blast.

Supreme Court has sought the response of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other AAP leaders on the Chandigarh Administration’s plea against the quashing of a 2020 riots case by the High Court.

MISHAPS: -

A portion of a bridge under construction across a river near Amli village in the Udanti area of Gariaband district was washed away due to the strong current. The bridge is being built on the road connecting Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Tragic Wall Collapse in West Bengal: In a fatal road accident, four men travelling on a single motorcycle were killed after the driver lost control and crashed into a brick wall. The impact caused the wall to collapse, completely crushing all four passengers under the heavy debris.

Fatal Bus-Scooter Collision in Behala: Near Kolkata's Behala Shimultala Market, a scooter rider died on the spot after a severe head-on collision with a long-distance passenger bus right in front of the local telephone exchange.

Murshidabad Train-Car Disaster: In a severe level-crossing accident, five people, including four school children, were killed when an oncoming train collided violently with a pool car at a level-crossing gate near the Karna Subarna railway station. The local railway gateman was subsequently arrested as investigations continue into systematic signalling or human failure.

Bhiwandi Building Collapse (Maharashtra): In the dead of night, a large portion of a four-story residential building collapsed unexpectedly in Bhiwandi. Emergency response units rushed to the scene to clear the rubble, confirming one fatality while several residents remain trapped under the structural debris.

Amarnath Yatra Pilgrim Bus Plunge (Jammu & Kashmir): A tourist bus carrying Hindu devotees returning from the Amarnath Cave Shrine met with a severe accident on the Srinagar-Baltal highway in Ganderbal. The driver lost control on a notoriously dangerous hairpin bend, causing the bus to skid off the road and plunge into a deep gorge. Joint rescue teams (Army, CRPF, and SDRF) successfully extracted all passengers, reporting 39 injured pilgrims.

Methane Gas Explosion at Teesta Hydro Project (Sikkim): Inside an under-construction head race tunnel at NHPC's 500 MW Hydroelectric Project in Namchi, a sudden pocket of trapped underground methane gas erupted. The toxic gas filled the tunnel instantly, suffocating and killing 13 workers while trapping several others inside before rescue teams could vent the area

WILD LIFE DEVELOPMENT:

New Tiger Safari Hub: The West Bengal Forest Department approved a new 1,000-acre tiger safari and open zoo hub in Jhargram. Majestic tigers, leopards, and deer will be relocated there to boost local eco-tourism.

Purulia Conservation Reserve: A massive 4,500-hectare Forest Conservation Reserve has been cleared in the Kotshila-Jhalda range. This acts as a vital cross-border wildlife corridor for elephants moving between Bengal and Jharkhand.

Bengal Safari Park Investigation: The state government ordered a comprehensive probe after three wild animals—a lion cub, a spectacled langur, and a blackbuck—died within a single week at the Siliguri-based park.

Sundarbans Sustainable Tourism: A new Multifaceted Tourism Master Plan is launching in August to implement eco-resorts, river tourism, and electric vessels to protect the fragile mangrove ecosystem.

Massive Greening Drive: The state has targeted planting 7.2 crore saplings under the Aranya Saptaha initiative, though environmentalists urge shifting emphasis from simple plantation metrics to deep ecological restoration

WEATHER:

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in parts of Arunachal Pradesh from July 31.It also issued a flash flood alert for nine districts and advised authorities to remain on high alert.

Regional Weather Highlights

South Bengal & Kolkata:

While the recent deep depression has shifted inland, strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal will maintain intermittent thundershowers and high humidity levels across Kolkata, Howrah, and neighbouring southern plains.

Rajasthan:

Scattered rainfall and thunderstorms reported in districts like Tonk and Kota, with Jaipur seeing temperatures around 29°C to 33°C under mostly cloudy skies.

Western & Central India: Heavy to very heavy rainfall alerts remain active for parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh as the monsoon depression tracks westwards.

Northeast India: Flood impacts continue to affect multiple districts and hundreds of villages across Assam.

Heavy rainfall over the past three days has caused several rivers and streams to swell across various districts of Chhattisgarh, disrupting road connectivity between many villages and their respective district headquarters. In view of the rising water levels, the administration has advised people living along riverbanks to remain alert.

TECHNOLOGY:

 India issued the Norms, Guidelines and Procedures for Authorisation for Undertaking Planned Re-entry of Space Objects on 23 July 2026. The framework was made public on 29–30 July 2026 and applies to planned re-entry of space objects into Earth’s atmosphere by Indian and foreign operators. The guidelines were issued by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, or IN-SPACe, under the Department of Space.

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a global model for digital governance, financial inclusion, and public service delivery. In a significant milestone, 24 countries have partnered with India to adopt components of India Stack, including the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), DigiLocker, and other digital governance platforms.

GAMES & SPORTS:

Commonwealth Games 2026 (Glasgow):

India enters the business end of the Glasgow games with several high-stakes podium opportunities:

Neeraj Chopra in Javelin Final: Former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra qualified for the men's javelin throw final after dealing with heavily windy conditions at the Scotstoun Stadium. He is joined by fellow Indians Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh in the 12-man final.

Historic Boxing Haul: An unprecedented 10 Indian boxers have stormed into the tournament semi-finals. Because a semi-final appearance guarantees a podium finish, India has already secured its highest-ever boxing medal count at a single CWG edition. The contingent is led by Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain.

Athletics & Para-Track Highlights:

Seema Kaliramna made an inspirational post-motherhood return to secure a bronze medal in the women's discus throw.

Tejaswin Shankar is currently sitting in second place overall in the gruelling men's decathlon standings.

Dilip Gavit scripted history by securing India's first-ever CWG para-athletics track gold medal.

Cricket: Curtain Calls:

Senior Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane officially announced his retirement from international cricket. The distinguished veteran brought down the curtains on a career spanning 85 Test matches and 90 ODIs. MY OPINION: He didn’t get justice either from selectors, or from Coaches—but served Indian Cricket well. No regrets—Man!

DAS KAPITAL:

 Brookfield launched a renewable energy platform named LUMARA in India on 30 July 2026. The platform will deploy about $600 million for solar, wind, and battery storage projects, and it will begin with an initial portfolio of more than 6 GW of capacity.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) approved the acquisition of Magma General Insurance by Patanjali Ayurved and the DS Group on 28 July 2026. The transaction is valued at about Rs 4,500 crore and involves the purchase of equity stakes from existing shareholders.

DBS Bank has created history by becoming the first Southeast Asian bank to be named “World’s Best Corporate Bank” at the Global Finance Global Bank Awards 2026. The prestigious recognition marks the first time a bank from Southeast Asia has won this global title since the award category was introduced in 2005.

SHARE MARKET:

The Indian stock market closed on a positive note.

BSE Sensex gaining 273.55 points (0.35%) to end at 77,928.15

NSE Nifty 50 rising 66.95 points (0.28%) to settle at 24,317.15.

Market breadth reflected continuous buying interest across select heavyweights, keeping indices cautiously bullish ahead of critical global cues like the US Federal Reserve decision.

BULLIONS:

Domestic Spot Bullion Values (Excluding GST)The standard base value across the country for physical delivery bars fluctuates based on purity levels:

24-Karat Gold (99.9% Purity): Trading at ₹1,44,950 per 10 grams.

999 Fine Silver: Stable at ₹2,20,520 per 1 kilogram.

CURRENCIES:

US Dollar (USD): 1 USD trades at ₹95.68.

Euro (EUR): 1 EUR trades at ₹110.14.

British Pound(GBP): 1 GBP trades at ₹128.80.

Australian Dollar (AUD): 1 AUD trades at ₹61.35.

Canadian Dollar (CAD): 1 CAD trades at ₹68.90.

 

 

THE END.