PM Modi Honored with ‘Key to the City of Buenos Aires’
During his visit to Argentina, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with the ‘Key to the City of Buenos Aires’ by city leader Jorge Macri. This symbolic gesture recognizes Modi’s role in strengthening India–Argentina relations and fostering international cooperation. It marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in over 50 years. PM Modi also visited statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Argentina’s national hero General José de San Martín. The visit included key discussions on energy, digital payments, pharma, and space tech collaborations.
NITI Aayog Releases 2nd SDG Index for Northeast Districts
On July 8, 2025, NITI Aayog released the 2nd Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index for Northeast India, ranking districts on performance in health, education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. The index uses 100+ indicators to assess progress at a granular level. Districts in Sikkim, Mizoram, and Meghalaya showed notable improvement, especially in health and education. The index is designed to guide state governments in identifying policy gaps and deploying resources more effectively. NITI Aayog emphasized that this initiative promotes data-driven governance and inclusive development across historically underrepresented northeastern regions.
World Rural Development Day 2025: Empowering Global Villages
World Rural Development Day, observed on July 8, 2025, highlights the importance of uplifting rural communities worldwide. The day emphasizes inclusive growth, improved infrastructure, access to education, and sustainable agriculture. This year’s theme, “Empowering Global Villages,” focused on integrating modern technologies like solar energy, digital banking, and smart irrigation into rural systems. Governments, NGOs, and UN bodies hosted conferences, awareness campaigns, and pilot programs. The observance aims to bridge urban-rural divides, ensuring that rural populations benefit equally from national and global progress. It also supports the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
World Swahili Language Day 2025 Celebrated Globally
World Swahili Language Day was celebrated on July 7, 2025, recognizing Swahili as a symbol of unity and cultural identity in Africa and beyond. Officially endorsed by UNESCO, the day honors the language’s role in decolonization, regional integration, and African literature. Celebrations included cultural performances, poetry readings, language workshops, and international forums. Swahili, spoken by over 200 million people, is one of the most widely used African languages. This year’s theme focused on “Promoting Peace and Multilingualism through Swahili,” highlighting its diplomatic and educational importance in global development and African solidarity.
UN Adopts Resolution Urging Taliban to Uphold Women’s Rights
On July 8, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly passed a strong resolution urging the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan to ensure women’s rights, particularly in education, employment, and freedom of movement. Supported by over 150 countries, the resolution condemns systematic restrictions on Afghan women and girls since the Taliban’s 2021 return. While not legally binding, the resolution adds significant international pressure. Human rights groups have welcomed the move, emphasizing the urgent need to restore basic rights for Afghan women. The Taliban has yet to officially respond, though past reactions to such resolutions have been dismissive.
Govt Joins Hands with Sri Aurobindo Society for Inclusive Education
The Indian government has partnered with the Sri Aurobindo Society to promote inclusive education through the “Zero Investment Innovations for Education Initiatives” (ZIIEI). The collaboration aims to train over one million teachers nationwide, equipping them with tools to better address diverse student needs, especially children with disabilities and from marginalized backgrounds. The initiative emphasizes no-cost, scalable solutions for government schools and aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This partnership will help foster creativity, inclusivity, and better learning outcomes, making education more accessible and equitable across rural and underserved regions in India.