![\"Vice](\"https:\/\/user-gen-media-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/gpt4o_images\/bb65815e-2d10-471f-9e4e-f38b4b58f4ec.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nVice President vacancy graphic<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Static nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Article 67(a): procedure for a Vice-President to resign to the President.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Next in line of succession: the Vice-President acts as President when that office is vacant (Article 65).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Supreme Court begins hearing Presidential reference on Governors\u2019 assent to Bills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A five-judge Constitution Bench (CJI B.R. Gavai presiding) issued notice to the Union and all States on a reference from the President made under Article 143(1)<\/a><\/a>. The reference seeks the Court\u2019s advisory opinion on whether courts can set timelines for Governors and the President to grant, withhold or reserve assent to State Bills, an issue that arose from the Court\u2019s 8 April Tamil Nadu ruling. Final arguments are expected in August 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Article 143: the President may seek the Supreme Court\u2019s advisory opinion on any question of law or public importance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Articles 200 & 201: Governor\/President\u2019s options on State legislation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
3. IMD issues Orange Alert for heavy rain across 10+ States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Telangana and other regions under an Orange Alert for 22 July, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall and possible flash floods<\/a><\/a>. Delhi\u2019s maximum temperature stayed 31 \u2013 33 \u00b0C as monsoon trough activity persisted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"IMD](\"https:\/\/user-gen-media-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/gpt4o_images\/85eb5ca1-27a2-4e32-949c-f9f4bd925955.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIMD orange alert map of India<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Static nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- IMD alert colours \u2013 Green (no warning), Yellow (watch), Orange (be prepared), Red (take action).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Orange denotes rainfall \u2265115.6 mm in 24 h at isolated places.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
4. India\u2013UK Free Trade Agreement set for signing on 24 July<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Commerce Ministry confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer will sign the long-negotiated FTA in London on 24 July 2025<\/a>. India will reduce or eliminate tariffs on 90% of tariff lines covering 92% of UK exports, while the UK will drop duties on 99% of Indian goods. Provisions include easier professional mobility and up to 74% FDI in Indian insurance and banking for UK firms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"India\u2013UK](\"https:\/\/user-gen-media-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/gpt4o_images\/6b88c261-e465-4249-823c-cd6d58a0ec54.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIndia\u2013UK Free Trade Agreement graphic<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Static nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Once signed, the treaty still needs ratification by Parliament in both nations before coming into force.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
5. RBI maintains growth push with June repo-rate cut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s 50 bps cut earlier this cycle brought the policy repo rate down to 5.50% \u2013 its lowest since early 2022<\/a><\/a>. RBI projects FY 26 real GDP growth at 6.5% and CPI inflation at 3.7%<\/a>. Former Governor Raghuram Rajan cautioned that structural reforms, not rate cuts alone, are needed to spur investment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Repo rate: the rate at which RBI lends short-term funds to banks; used to transmit monetary policy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
6. Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2018-19 Series-V redemption price announced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
RBI fixed the premature redemption price for the SGB issued in January 2019 at \u20b99,816 per g (average closing price of 999-purity gold, previous week), yielding holders a 205% return on the issue price of \u20b93,214 per g<\/a>. Bonds carry 2.5% annual interest (taxable) and capital gains tax exemption on redemption with the RBI.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Premature redemption window opens six months before bond maturity, exercisable on interest-payment dates after year 5.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
7. England named host for next three World Test Championship finals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The ICC confirmed that Lord\u2019s or another English venue will stage the 2027, 2029 and 2031 WTC finals, edging out India\u2019s bid<\/a>. England\u2019s proven ability to deliver sell-outs and favourable June weather were key factors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- South Africa won the 2025 WTC final; India leads the overall tally with two titles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
8. NASA\u2019s TRACERS mission scheduled to launch today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A SpaceX Falcon 9 is targeting an afternoon window from Vandenberg SLC-4E to deploy NASA\u2019s Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS)<\/a><\/a>. The twin spacecraft will investigate how the solar wind interacts with Earth\u2019s magnetosphere, improving space-weather forecasting. Three NASA small-sat rideshares (including the Athena EPIC SmallSat) will accompany the launch<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- TRACERS is a Small Explorers (SMEX) mission with 4-year prime science duration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
9. Rhine-Ruhr FISU World University Games: India opens medal account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The 32nd FISU Games run 16 \u2013 27 July across five German cities. India claimed its first-ever Universiade badminton medal \u2013 bronze in the mixed-team event<\/a>. Archery qualification begins today, featuring World Cup champion Madhura Dhamangaonkar<\/a>. Medal tables are updated daily<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2. Supreme Court begins hearing Presidential reference on Governors\u2019 assent to Bills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A five-judge Constitution Bench (CJI B.R. Gavai presiding) issued notice to the Union and all States on a reference from the President made under Article 143(1)<\/a><\/a>. The reference seeks the Court\u2019s advisory opinion on whether courts can set timelines for Governors and the President to grant, withhold or reserve assent to State Bills, an issue that arose from the Court\u2019s 8 April Tamil Nadu ruling. Final arguments are expected in August 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Telangana and other regions under an Orange Alert for 22 July, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall and possible flash floods<\/a><\/a>. Delhi\u2019s maximum temperature stayed 31 \u2013 33 \u00b0C as monsoon trough activity persisted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IMD orange alert map of India<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Commerce Ministry confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer will sign the long-negotiated FTA in London on 24 July 2025<\/a>. India will reduce or eliminate tariffs on 90% of tariff lines covering 92% of UK exports, while the UK will drop duties on 99% of Indian goods. Provisions include easier professional mobility and up to 74% FDI in Indian insurance and banking for UK firms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India\u2013UK Free Trade Agreement graphic<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s 50 bps cut earlier this cycle brought the policy repo rate down to 5.50% \u2013 its lowest since early 2022<\/a><\/a>. RBI projects FY 26 real GDP growth at 6.5% and CPI inflation at 3.7%<\/a>. Former Governor Raghuram Rajan cautioned that structural reforms, not rate cuts alone, are needed to spur investment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RBI fixed the premature redemption price for the SGB issued in January 2019 at \u20b99,816 per g (average closing price of 999-purity gold, previous week), yielding holders a 205% return on the issue price of \u20b93,214 per g<\/a>. Bonds carry 2.5% annual interest (taxable) and capital gains tax exemption on redemption with the RBI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ICC confirmed that Lord\u2019s or another English venue will stage the 2027, 2029 and 2031 WTC finals, edging out India\u2019s bid<\/a>. England\u2019s proven ability to deliver sell-outs and favourable June weather were key factors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A SpaceX Falcon 9 is targeting an afternoon window from Vandenberg SLC-4E to deploy NASA\u2019s Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS)<\/a><\/a>. The twin spacecraft will investigate how the solar wind interacts with Earth\u2019s magnetosphere, improving space-weather forecasting. Three NASA small-sat rideshares (including the Athena EPIC SmallSat) will accompany the launch<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 32nd FISU Games run 16 \u2013 27 July across five German cities. India claimed its first-ever Universiade badminton medal \u2013 bronze in the mixed-team event<\/a>. Archery qualification begins today, featuring World Cup champion Madhura Dhamangaonkar<\/a>. Medal tables are updated daily<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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3. IMD issues Orange Alert for heavy rain across 10+ States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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4. India\u2013UK Free Trade Agreement set for signing on 24 July<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStatic nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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5. RBI maintains growth push with June repo-rate cut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Static nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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6. Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2018-19 Series-V redemption price announced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Static nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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7. England named host for next three World Test Championship finals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Static nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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8. NASA\u2019s TRACERS mission scheduled to launch today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Static nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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9. Rhine-Ruhr FISU World University Games: India opens medal account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Static nuggets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n