Daily Current Affairs – 03-08-2025
National News
Post offices across India to accept digital payments soon
As India Post phases out its “Registered Post” service and merges it with Speed Post, the Department of Posts is upgrading its logistics and IT systems. A key initiative is the integration of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the time of booking Speed Post, which will prevent individual post offices from declining digital payments. To improve its domestic mail transport, India Post is ensuring enough room for mail bags on flights across India by securing “hard blocks” (reserved space) on passenger flights. A tender was issued for this on July 17. Post offices across the country are upgrading their IT systems in phases. A new Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has been rolled out in major metro cities like Delhi and Chennai, with Mumbai set to transition on August 4. Over 86,000 post offices, representing more than half of the postal network in India, have been upgraded to the new systems so far. The APT application is designed to offer an enhanced user experience, faster service, real-time tracking, electronic proof of delivery, OTP-based authentication, and open API integration. The department is also developing an email-like system to seamlessly redirect letters when addressees change their residence. The DIGIPIN initiative, which allows for more precise latitude-longitude data within a PIN code, was also launched this year.
103% Growth in Fish Production
Union Minister for Fisheries, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, announced that the country’s total fish production has recorded a growth of 103 percent over the last 10 years. He urged states like West Bengal, which are rich in inland water resources such as rivers, lakes, and ponds, to fully utilize their potential in this sector. India, the second-largest fish producer in the world, has seen a 103 percent growth in overall fish production in the last 10 years. In terms of inland water bodies, fish production has registered a growth of 143 percent. States with abundant inland water resources must fully utilize their potential in this sector. All necessary measures should be taken by the state governments to encourage small-scale fish producers in villages and to provide the required infrastructure. In West Bengal, one of the leading states in fish production, only about 51,000 fishermen are officially registered. The number of fishermen in this state is over 32 lakh. There are countless water bodies here. There is a need to develop these for aquaculture. If appropriate steps are taken to develop inland water resources, the central government will provide support, said Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
Economy News
Nepal: Indians Rank First Among Tourists
Indians hold the top position in the number of tourists visiting Nepal. Data from the country’s tourism department reveals the following: In the month of July, 70,193 tourists visited Nepal. Among them, Indians accounted for 38.7 percent, securing the first place. A total of 27,152 tourists came from India. Following India, 6,890 tourists (9.8 percent) came from China. Additionally, 6,626 people (9.4 percent) from the United States, 4,413 people (6.3 percent) from Bangladesh, and 3,547 people (5.1 percent) from Britain visited as tourists. In the first seven months of the year 2025, a total of 6,47,882 tourists have arrived by air. The data indicates that this is the highest number in the post-COVID crisis period.
International News
India Receives 16th C-295 Military Aircraft from Spain
The Indian Embassy announced on Saturday that India has received its 16th C-295 military aircraft from Spain. This is the final C-295 aircraft that India will receive directly from Spain. The C-295 military aircraft, which is replacing the Indian Air Force’s Avro transport aircraft, is designed with modern technology capable of carrying a payload of 5 to 10 tonnes. In a social media post on the matter, the Indian Embassy stated, “The 16th C-295 military aircraft was received by India’s Ambassador to Spain, Dinesh K. Patnaik, and senior officials of the Indian Air Force at the defense and aerospace company’s facility in Seville. It was announced that the aircraft has been handed over to India.” Under the India-Spain agreement signed in September 2021, India contracted with Spain’s aerospace and defense center to procure 56 C-295 military transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. As per this agreement, Spain agreed to deliver 16 C-295 military aircraft directly to India. Spain has now delivered this 16th and final aircraft to India. India has agreed to manufacture the remaining 40 aircraft domestically. To facilitate this, a Tata facility for the production of C-295 aircraft was established last October on the campus of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in Vadodara, Gujarat. This center was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. It is noteworthy that this is the first private-sector facility in India to undertake the final assembly of a military aircraft.
Reports and Indices
Tamil Nadu First in India : Organ Donation
Tamil Nadu has been selected as the leading state in the country for effectively performing organ transplant surgeries. At a ceremony held in Delhi on Saturday, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda presented the award for this achievement to Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan, the member secretary of the Tamil Nadu Transplant Authority. In Chennai, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian stated that this award has been given to Tamil Nadu for the year.
States’ News
Nalam Kaakkum Stalin
Under the ‘Nalam Kaakkum Stalin’ (Stalin who protects well-being) scheme, 1,256 camps are set to be conducted in Tamil Nadu. For this, a total of ₹13.58 crore has been allocated, at a rate of ₹1,08,173 per camp. In each district, these camps will be held on Saturdays from 9 AM to 4 PM in selected school and college campuses, coordinating with various departments. Consultations from 17 super-specialty medical experts are provided. Registration under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and the issuance of government-recognized certificates for persons with disabilities are also carried out. Beneficiaries can receive their test results via WhatsApp or SMS. The related database, continuous monitoring, and treatment procedures are monitored through the Health Management Information System.