“IMPORTANT DAYS”

Hiroshima Day 2025

Every year on August 6, the world observes Hiroshima Day to remember the catastrophic moment in World War II when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. The event left deep scars on humanity, with thousands killed instantly and survivors suffering from long-term radiation effects. As we observe Hiroshima Day 2025, it serves as a reminder not only of the immense loss but also of the urgent need for global peace, nuclear disarmament, and a world free of the fear of atomic destruction.

“APPOINTMENTS”

IndusInd Bank Appoints Rajiv Anand as New Managing Director and CEO

IndusInd Bank, a leading private sector lender in India, announced the appointment of Rajiv Anand as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Anand’s tenure will begin on August 25, 2025, and continue until August 24, 2028, subject to shareholder approval at the bank’s forthcoming general meeting. The Board of Directors at IndusInd Bank approved the appointment of Rajiv Anand as an Additional Director, designated specifically in the category of MD & CEO for a term of three years.

Rajarajan Appointed as New Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

Rajarajan, a senior ISRO scientist, has been appointed as the new Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), succeeding Unnikrishnan Nair. Before this appointment, Rajarajan served as the Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota and has nearly four decades of experience in ISRO. He joined VSSC in January 1987 and has held several leadership roles, specializing in the design and development of launch vehicles and spacecraft composite systems.

P B Balaji Appointed CEO of Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has appointed P B Balaji as its next Chief Executive Officer, making him the first Indian executive to lead the Tata Motors-owned British luxury carmaker. Balaji, currently serving as Group CFO at Tata Motors, will assume the role of CEO in November 2025, succeeding Adrian Mardell, who is set to retire at the end of his contract.

“NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS”

VOC Port Becomes First in India to Produce Green Hydrogen

O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Thoothukudi has become the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen and generate over 1 MW of rooftop solar power. The “Green Ports and Shipping – Chartering Sustainable Maritime Future” conference, held under the NAVIC Cell-3 initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, aims to promote net-zero emissions in India’s maritime sector and showcases key developments like a planned green methanol bunkering facility and solid-waste-based methanol production.

CM M.K. Stalin Inaugurates VinFast’s First EV Plant in India at Thoothukudi

Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin inaugurated VinFast’s first EV manufacturing plant in India, at Thoothukudi, built in just 17 months on a 408-acre site under a ₹16,000-crore MoU signed during the 2024 Global Investors Meet. The plant, located in the SIPCOT industrial complex at Sillanatham, will initially produce 50,000 EVs annually, with capacity scaling up to 1.5 lakh units and creating over 3,500 jobs in the next five years, contributing to Tamil Nadu’s leadership in EV manufacturing.

First BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival Held in New Delhi

The first BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival, titled ‘SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody’, was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, featuring performances by artists from all seven BIMSTEC countries — India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the event, emphasizing that music acts as a bridge between nations, expresses cultural identity, and reflects the soul and dignity of society through its unifying power.