Midday News -

THE HEADLINES :-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates world’s highest railway arch bridge, Chenab Bridge and India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, Anji bridge on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister also flags off Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Katra and Srinagar; Says development projects in J&K are a huge celebration of India’s unity and willpower.
RBI reduces policy repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5 per cent.
NEET-PG 2025 examinations to be held on August 3 in a Single Shift.
US President Donald Trump and Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s open rift plunges Tesla’s market cap by over 150 billion dollars, in biggest single-day loss.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is now connected with the railway network. Mr Modi said this after inaugurating the Chenab Bridge and Anji Khad Bridge today in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Modi also laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over 46 thousand crore rupees. Addressing the gathering, he said that development projects will provide fresh momentum to the progress of Jammu and Kashmir and are a huge celebration of India’s unity and willpower. He described Jammu and Kashmir as crown jewel of India, adding that Chenab and Anji bridge will serve as gateway to prosperity for J & K.

Now we go over live to Prime Minister’s address at Katra.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted the global achievements of India’s youth, stating that the country’s youth have made a mark globally. As the NDA government at the Centre completes 11 years in office, Mr Modi described the youth as symbols of dynamism, innovation, and determination, saying that the nation’s growth in the last 11 years has been fueled by the unmatched energy and conviction of Yuva Shakti. In a social media post , Mr Modi wrote, the country has witnessed remarkable instances of youngsters who have done the unthinkable across various sectors including StartUps, science, sports, community service, culture and more in the last 11 years.

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The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today decided to reduce the policy repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5 per cent. Consequently, the standing deposit facility rate under the liquidity adjustment facility shall stand adjusted to 5.25 per cent and the marginal standing facility rate and the Bank Rate to 5.75 per cent.

According to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, the decision is in consonance with the objective of achieving the medium-term target for consumer price index inflation of 4 per cent within a band of +/- 2 per cent, while supporting growth. The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled from August 4 to 6, this year.

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The Supreme Court has allowed the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to hold the NEET-PG 2025 examination on August 3, 2025, in one shift. The exam was initially scheduled for June 15. A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Augustine George Masih, which initially questioned the more than two months time sought by the NBE for holding the examination, said the reasons cited for holding NEET-PG 2025 on August 3 appears to be bonafide. The Apex court, however, made it clear no further time will be granted to NBE for holding NEET-PG 2025 examination.

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The all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad has reached Berlin, Germany. The delegation was welcomed by Indian Ambassador to Germany Ajit Gupte. The discussions included an overview on India-Germany relations, with focus on expanding Strategic Partnership and growing cooperation in trade and investment, defence, Science and Tech and Mobility. Meanwhile, the All party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met US Vice President JD Vance in Washington DC last night on its final leg of the five nation visit. Talking to the media about the success of the multi-party delegation visit, Mr Tharoor said the delegation got its message across to different countries about Operation Sindoor and why it was necessary.

Out of seven multi-party delegations carrying the message of India’s principled and resolute stand against terrorism, five delegations have now returned to India after concluding their successful visit to respective countries.

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India has undergone a decade of remarkable transformation, driven by the principles of Seva, Sushasan, and Garib Kalyan. Akashvani News brings you a special feature on the Government’s efforts over the last 11 years across key sectors. Today, we focus on Cultural Heritage Preservation – a key to reviving India’s civilizational pride.

“Over the past 11 years, India’s cultural journey has flourished like a rangoli: colorful, rooted in tradition and open to the world. From the timeless temples of Hampi to the living traditions of classical music and dance, the government has given new energy to both tangible and intangible heritage.

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya stands as a symbol of faith and national unity, fulfilling a historic aspiration. The Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor project in Varanasi has transformed the pilgrim experience by directly connecting the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple with the Ganga River. In Ujjain, the Mahakaal Lok Project was launched to provide world-class amenities and spiritual ambience, enriching the pilgrim experience at the revered Mahakaleshwar temple. While in the Himalayas, the redevelopment of Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham has strengthened infrastructure and safety for pilgrims visiting these sacred shrines.

The Swadesh Darshan scheme has further boosted travel infrastructure, with more that 5,000 crore rupees sanctioned for 76 projects across identified thematic circuits. Complementing these efforts, the HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) scheme has focused on developing 12 heritage cities. Together, these initiatives are preserving India’s spiritual and cultural heritage while driving a surge in tourism across the country. Efforts extend beyond temples to include inclusive heritage development-restoring Sikh gurdwaras, Buddhist viharas, Jain temples, Sufi dargahs, and tribal sacred sites.

India has also successfully repatriated over 350 idols and artefacts from abroad, restoring priceless heritage. Pilgrimage connectivity has been enhanced under the PM Gati Shakti and Bharatmala initiatives, with better roads, ropeways, and rail links improving access to holy sites. This cultural renaissance is about preserving history, strengthening faith, and fostering unity for generations to come. VISHNU PS AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”

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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today expressed gratitude to the Central Asian nations for their continued support to India and their condemnation of the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam. Addressing the 4th meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, Dr. Jaishankar said that India remains the trusted development partner to the Central- Asian Countries.

The India-Central Asia Dialogue is being attended by Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

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In Sikkim, all the stranded tourists at Lachen in Mangan district have been evacuated today. Both the DC and SP of Mangan, who were monitoring the rescue mission, confirmed this. Today IAF’s helicopters operating from Bagdogra and Pakyong, airlifted the remaining stranded tourists and also some local people at Chaten. All the evacuees have now left for their destinations.

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In Assam, the overall flood situation has slightly improved. Over 5 lakh 60 thousand people are still reeling under the deluge in 16 districts. There are no reports of loss of human life due to flood this morning. About 1400 villages affected by flood and over 1900 hectares of crop areas have been damaged across the state. The State Government has engaged SDRF teams for evacuation at Sribhumi District since early morning.

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Shares of Tesla have seen a stark slump amid public feud between US President Donald Trump and his former adviser Elon Musk. At the Nasdaq exchange, Tesla’s shares wiped out nearly 150 billion dollars from its market cap, its biggest single-day loss in value ever. The rift between US President and Musk has erupted into the open, with each trading insults after the tech billionaire criticised Trump’s tax and budget legislation. The two billionaires escalated the feud, lobbing barbs at one another on the social media sites they each own.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates world’s highest railway arch bridge, Chenab Bridge and India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, Anji bridge on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister also flags off Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Katra and Srinagar; Says development projects in J&K are a huge celebration of India’s unity and willpower.
RBI reduces policy repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5 per cent.
NEET-PG 2025 examinations to be held on August 3 in a Single Shift.
US President Donald Trump and Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s open rift plunges Tesla’s market cap by over 150 billion dollars, in biggest single-day loss.

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