Current Affairs 20 & 21 July 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Bihar and West Bengal on July 18, 2025On July 18, 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Bihar and West Bengal (WB) to inaugurate, lay the foundation and dedicate various development projects.

• The inaugurated projects include rail, road, rural development, fisheries, electronics and Information Technology (IT) development projects, schemes, and energy sector projects.

Highlights:
i.PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated multiple development projects worth Rs.7,000 crores in Motihari, Bihar.

• Flagged off four Amrit Bharat Express Trains and dedicated multiple rail projects to the nation, including Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj line doubling project worth Rs.4,080 crores, with an aim to increase sectional capacity and improve connectivity in North Bihar.
• ii.Inaugurated Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facility at Darbhanga and several fisheries development projects under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

ii.PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated, and dedicated development projects worth Rs.5,400 crores to the nation in Durgapur, WB.

• Laid the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) City Gas Distribution Project worth approximately Rs.1,950 crores in Bankura and Purulia districts of WB.
• Dedicated the retrofitting of Pollution Control Systems, Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) at Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station.

>>Read Full News

BIS Mandates Hallmarking for 9-Karat Gold Jewellery from July 2025On July 18, 2025, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD), announced the inclusion of 9-karat gold under mandatory hallmarking. This regulation has been introduced through BIS Amendment No. 2 and will take effect from July 2025.

• The amendment is under the provisions of the BIS Act, 2016, which governs standards related to the purity and certification of gold jewellery and artefacts in India.
• The hallmarking process ensures consumer trust by certifying the purity and fineness of gold products, and includes the official BIS logo, the purity marking in karat and fineness (parts per thousand, ppt), and a 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID)

Key Changes:
i.Expanded Purity Grades: The list of hallmarking grades has now included 8 hallmarking grades, 24 Karat Fine (KF) (999 ppt), 24 Karat Solid (KS) (995 ppt), 23K (958 ppt), 22K (916 ppt), 20K (833 ppt), 18K (750 ppt), 14K (585 ppt), and 9K (375 ppt).
ii.Exclusions: Gold watches, pens, and legal-tender coins are excluded from the definition of artefacts. Gold coins must be 24KF(Karat Gold – Flat) or 24KS(Karat Gold – Struck) purity and produced only by mints/refineries.
Implementation Framework:
i.Nationwide Coverage: Mandatory BIS hallmarking now covers 361 districts across India, following four phases of rollout since June 2021.
ii.Compliance Requirements: All jewellers and Assaying & Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) must adhere to the new guidelines.

• Non-compliance risks penalties under the BIS Act, 2016, including imprisonment up to two years or fines of Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh, or up to ten times the value of non-compliant articles.

iii.Traceability: Over 40 crore gold jewellery items already bear a HUID, enabling verification via the BIS Care Application(App)
iv.Global Standards: Refineries must hold London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) or National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation to certify gold bars.
About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
Director General (DG) – Pramod Kumar Tiwari
Headquarters – New Delhi (Delhi)
Formed – 1986

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Maharashtra’s CM Jointly Inaugurated 1st IICT Campus at NFDC Complex in MumbaiIn July 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), and Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra, jointly inaugurated the 1st campus of the ‘Indian Institute of Creative Technology’ (IICT) at National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Complex in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• They also inaugurated the Bharat Pavilion at Gulshan Mahal in National Museum in National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC), NFDC Complex.

i.Other key initiatives launched at the event were: the release of outcome reports of the inaugural edition of World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) and the launch of the IICT logo and 17 courses.
ii.Also, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Prasar Bharti and the Government of Maharashtra through Maharashtra Film, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation Limited (MFSCDCL).
iii.While addressing the event, Union Minister Vaishnaw highlighted that the Government of India (GoI) has allocated Rs 400 crore for the development of IICT.
About Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB):
Union Minister – Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha Member- Odisha)
Union Minister of State (MoS) – Dr. Loganathan Murugan (Rajya Sabha Member- Madhya Pradesh, MP)
>>Read Full News

Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches NSCSTI 2.0 to Modernize Civil Services Training in IndiaIn July 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPP&P) launched the National Standards for Civil Service Training Institutes (NSCSTI 2.0) at the Civil Service Officers Institute (CSOI) in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The revamped framework was developed by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) which works under MoPP&P.
• The newly launched initiative aims to create a future-ready, citizen-centric, and competent bureaucracy, aligned with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision.

Key Dignitaries:
Adil Zainulbhai, Chairperson of CBC; V. Lalithalakshmi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karmayogi Bharat; Syama Prasad Roy, Joint Secretary of CBC and other senior officials were present at the event.
About NSCSTI 2.0:
i.The framework provides a more refined, inclusive, and future-ready approach to civil services training.
ii.It has been simplified and streamlined, with the number of evaluation metrics decreased from 59 to 43, for greater clarity and outcome-focused assessments.
iii.It is developed through the consultations with more than 160 Civil Service Training Institutes (CSTIs), assessors, and domain experts.
iv.It is suitable for training institutes at all government levels, including Central, State, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
v.The framework is also digitally aligned with hybrid learning models and Artificial Intelligence (AI)–driven training mechanisms.
vi.It also integrates progress elements like: Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), the Karmayogi Competency Model (KCM), and the Amrit Gyaan Kosh (AGK).

• The features of the framework are in alignment with India’s vision of building a future-ready, competent, and citizen-centric civil service.

Significance:
i.The upgraded framework bolsters the civil services training ecosystem by improving policy visibility, encouraging innovation, and promoting continuous improvement among CSTIs.
ii.It promotes cross-learning, enabling training institutes to learn from the top-performing CSITs across India.
iii.More than 195 CSTIs have been accredited under previous version of NSCSTI in just 2 years. The revamped version builds on real-time feedback and participatory principle of CBC.
About Capacity Building Commission(CBC):
It comprises three members and is supported by an internal Secretariat led by a Secretary.
Chairperson- Adil Zainulbhai
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 2021

NIEPID Signs MoU with Jai Vakeel Foundation for Structured and Uniform Education for CwIDIn July, 2025, the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Divyangjan) (NIEPID) under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment(MSJE), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jai Vakeel Foundation (JVF) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to implement a structured and uniform education for Children with Intellectual Disabilities (CwID) across India.

• The MoU was signed in the presence of Rajesh Agarwal, Secretary of DEPwD (MSJE), as part of the Disha Abhiyan-a curriculum and implementation framework developed by JVF .
• With this move, NIEPID DISHA Curriculum will become a comprehensive education model for CwIDs across India.

Note: DISHA Abhiyan was certified by NIEPID in 2019. It integrates a uniform Assessment Checklist for IEP, a research-based multisensory Curriculum, a Digital Portal, and a Training Ecosystem for educators.
About the Partnership:
i.The MoU combines NIEPID’s expertise in training and research with JVF’s field experience to develop a uniform, scalable curriculum tailored to the specific needs of CwID.
ii.Under this collaboration, the key resources developed by JVF, including NIEPID DISHA Assessment Checklist for Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), the NIEPID DISHA Multisensory Curriculum, NIEPID DISHA Digital Portal and Teacher Training will be made available to schools, centres, and organizations serving CwIDs.
iii.The partnership strengthens India’s educational framework and aligns with global commitments under the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
About National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID):
Director – Dr. B.V. Ram Kumar
Headquarters – Secunderabad, Telangana
Established – 1984

MSDE Constitutes NSC for ITI Upgradation Scheme & Establishes 5 National CoEIn July 2025, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) constituted a National Steering Committee (NSC) headed by Rajit Punhani, Secretary of MSDE, to oversee the implementation of the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) upgradation scheme and the establishment of five National Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for skilling.

• The scheme will operate under a hub-and-spoke model with a target to skill over 2 million youth in five years.

About National Steering Committee (NSC):
i.The NSC has been established to oversee the transformation of 1,000 government ITIs into future-ready institutions and to formulate regulations for setting up five CoEs focused on developing a skilled workforce for the manufacturing sector.
ii.The NSC will be responsible for issuing scheme guidelines, providing overall policy direction, reallocating funds among various components within the total scheme outlay, and making necessary modifications to minor components not initially included but essential for effective implementation.
iii.Additionally, it will ensure coordination among central, state, and cluster-level entities, review state proposals, and grant final approval for selected bids.
>>Read Full News

Maharashtra becomes 1st State in India to Grant Agricultural Status to Livestock & Poultry Farming
In July 2025, the Maharashtra cabinet headed by Chief Minister(CM) Devendra Fadnavis has granted agricultural status to livestock farming, aimed to support small farmers engaged in dairy, poultry, goat, and pig rearing, in rural areas of the state.

• With this recognition, Maharashtra becomes the 1st state in India to accord agricultural status to livestock and poultry farming.

i.This decision is expected to benefit 76.41 lakh families engaged in livestock farming, with an estimated increase of Rs 7,700 crore in income of these families through livestock production.
ii.The livestock farmers will now receive a maximum 4% interest subsidy on project loans taken through Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs), in accordance with the provisions similar to the Panjabrao Deshmukh Interest Subsidy.
iii.Also, Gram Panchayats (GPs) will now have the power/authority to levy agricultural tax rates on livestock and poultry farms, which will further reduce the local tax burdens on farmers.
Note: Animal husbandry sector contributes 24% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), twice the 12% share from the agriculture sector.

MoTA Collaborated with CIL to Enhance Quality Education in Chhattisgarh
In July 2025, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has collaborated with Coal India Limited (CIL), Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) ‘Maharatna’ under the Ministry of Coal (MoC), for enhancing the quality of education given to the tribal students in Chhattisgarh.

• As part of this strategic partnership, CIL will support 68 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in Chhattisgarh under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which is expected to benefit over 28,000 tribal students.

i.CIL has further sanctioned Rs 10 crore towards the following interventions:

• Promoting digital education by establishing computer Labs
• Improving Health hygiene of girl students by setting up nearly 1,200 sanitary napkin vending machines and 1,200 incinerators in schools and hostels;
• Providing comprehensive mentorship for students;
• Residential entrepreneurial boot camps will be organised in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)/ Indian Institute of Management (IIM)/National Institute of Technology (NIT) for students.

ii.The project will be implemented through National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), a section 8 company under the administrative control of MoTA.
Note: As of June 2025, a total of 479 EMRS are functioning across India.

UAE-India CEPA Council & BHU’s Atal Incubation Centre Sign MoU to Boost Startup Ties
In July 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Council (UICC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Atal Incubation Centre Mahamana Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Institute of Management, Banaras Hindu University (AIC-MFIE-IM-BHU) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India.

• The MoU was signed between Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of UICC, and Professor P. V. Rajeev, Professor-in-Charge of AIC-MFIE-IM-BHU.
• This collaboration marks a strategic step to enhance startup and innovation cooperation between India and the UAE, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities of India.

i.The MoU fosters institutional linkages, knowledge exchange, and market access for 110+ startups incubated at AIC-BHU, with emphasis on sectors like healthcare, agri-tech, clean energy, and logistics.
ii.UAE-India Start-Up Series offers selected Indian startups access to fast-track UAE licensing, mentorship, investor networks, and incubation support in the UAE.

BEML Secured Order worth Rs 185.65 Crore from MoD for Supply of 79 PAT Bulldozers
In July 2025, Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), a Schedule ‘A’ public sector enterprise (PSE) works under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has secured an order worth Rs 185.65 crore from the MoD for the supply of 79 units of its flagship Power Angling & Tilting (PAT) Bulldozers.

• This order reinforces BEML’s commitment to the Government of India (GoI)’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and its resolve to equip India’s armed forces with reliable, high-quality, and indigenously developed solutions.

i.The PAT bulldozers, indigenously developed, are customized for the toughest operational conditions.
ii.This order follows BEML’s successful fulfilment of an earlier contract involving the delivery of 66 bulldozers.
iii.BEML’s indigenous manufacturing capabilities are backed by dedicated in-house Research and Development (R&D) and advanced production facilities located in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Switzerland Completes Ratification of India-EFTA AgreementIn July 2025, Switzerland has completed its ratification process of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and Europe Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes member countries such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

• With this development, the agreement stands fully ratified, as the remaining three EFTA member countries had already completed their ratification.
• The agreement, expected to come into force in October 2025, aims to significantly reduce trade barriers and enhance investment flows between India and the four EFTA member states.

India-EFTA Agreement:
i.The TEPA is a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and EFTA. It was signed on March 10, 2024, in New Delhi, Delhi, after 16 years of negotiations, which started in 2008.

• This is India’s inaugural trade agreement with a European bloc, highlighting a strategic shift in its international trade policy.

ii.The objective of TEPA is to boost bilateral trade in goods and services, attract investment, enhance market access, promote sustainable development, and strengthen cooperation.
iii.Under the TEPA, EFTA will invest USD 100 billion in India over the next 15 years.
iv.The agreement comprises 14 chapters with main focus on market access related to goods, rules of origin, trade facilitation, trade remedies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, investment promotion, market access on services, intellectual property rights, trade and sustainable development and other legal and horizontal provisions.
Points to Note:
i.Switzerland is the 12th largest investor in India. Its investment has increased from Swiss Franc (CHF) 551 million (approximately Rs.5,935 crore) in 2000 to CHF 10 billion (Rs. 1,07,736 crore) in 2024.
ii.More than 330 Swiss companies operate in India across sectors including engineering, precision instruments, chemicals pharmaceuticals and services.
About Switzerland:
President – Karin Keller-Sutter
Capital – Bern
Currency – Swiss Franc(CHF)

INS Sandhayak Docks in Malaysia to Boost Maritime Cooperation
The Indian Navy Ship (INS) Sandhayak, India’s indigenously built Survey Vessel (Large) (SVL), docked at Port Klang (Malaysia) for its maiden hydrographic mission to Malaysia from July 16 to 19, 2025.

• This marks the first-ever visit by a hydrographic vessel from India to Malaysia, strengthening bilateral maritime ties.

i.The visit aims to facilitate technical exchanges and strengthen institutional ties through concerted operations, such as the sharing of survey technologies and sustained hydrographic support engagements.
ii.INS Sandhayak, commissioned in February 2024, is the cutting-edge hydrographic survey ship of the Indian Navy (IN). It is the lead vessel of the Sandhayak-class SVL, the first of four modern SVL ships, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited.
iii.The ship is designed for full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys, including oceanographic data collection.
iv.Hydrographic Mission is a specialized task of gathering scientific data about the ocean by mapping and studying the ocean conditions.

BANKING & FINANCE

The Wealth Company Receives SEBI’s Approval for Mutual Fund Business
On 18 July 2025, The Wealth Company Asset Management Holdings Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Pantomath Group, received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its mutual fund(MF) business.

• The company will now operate as The Wealth Company MF, entering India’s MF sector valued at Rs. 74.41 trillion.

i.It has now become the youngest Asset Management Company (AMC) in India’s MF industry
ii.The entry into MF brings their rigorous investment approach to a broader base of investors, supporting India’s development goals, especially in Tier 3 markets and beyond.
Note: As of July 2025, nearly 50 AMCs are actively operating in India’s mutual fund industry.

Aurum PropTech Receives SEBI Approval to Launch India’s First Listed SM-REIT
In July 2025, Aurum PropTech Limited, a part of Aurum Ventures, received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its Small and Medium Real Estate Investment Trust (SM-REIT) under the name AMSA SM REIT Investment Trust (AMSA).

• The registration certificate, received via a regulatory filing on July 18, 2025, designates Aurum as India’s first publicly listed company to operate an SM-REIT platform.

i.The AMSA SM-REIT framework enables retail investors to acquire fractional ownership in rent-yielding premium commercial properties, such as office spaces and retail outlets, through schemes listed on stock exchanges.
ii.The SM-REITs will focus on completed, income-generating commercial assets, ensuring stable returns and strict adherence to SEBI’s SM-REIT compliance norms.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

JFSL and Allianz Signed Agreement to form 50:50 Domestic Reinsurance JV
In July 2025, Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Alliance Group (Allianz) through its 100%-owned subsidiary Allianz Europe B.V., entered into a binding agreement to form a 50:50 domestic reinsurance Joint Venture (JV) to serve the dynamic and high-growth insurance sector in India.

• This JV aims to expand access to insurance, supporting the national goal of ‘Insurance for All 2047’.

i.This strategic partnership combines Allianz’s global reinsurance expertise with JFSL’s strong domestic presence and advanced digital infrastructure, aiming to offer innovative and tailored reinsurance solutions to Indian insurers.
ii.The reinsurance partnership will support insurers in managing risks more efficiently by offering robust underwriting expertise and enhanced capacity at competitive terms.
ii.Also, both companies entered into non-binding agreement to establish equally-owned (50:50) JVs for both general and life insurance businesses in India.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

ICAR-SBI Team Won National Award for Developing Soil Moisture IndicatorOn July 16, 2025, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) presented the Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Puraskar 2025 (National Agricultural Science Award) under ‘Innovation & Technology in Agriculture & Allied Sciences’ to a five-member scientist team from the Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)-based ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI).

• Dr. K. Hari, Dr. D. Puthira Prathap, Dr. P. Murali, Dr. A. Rameshsundar, and Dr. B. Singaravelu are the five-member scientist team who developed the Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI) that uses soil electrical conductivity to measure moisture levels.
• The award was presented during the 97th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi, witnessed by Minister of State Bhagirath Chaudhary and farmers.

About Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI):
i.It is a farmer-friendly device that measures soil moisture in real time using electrical conductivity, costing Rs. 2000 per device. It enables precise irrigation planning, conserving water without affecting crop yield.
ii.Developed under the Farmers’ Participatory Action Research Project, funded by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and overseen by the Central Water Commission

• Field-tested across five Tamil Nadu districts shows Increased sugarcane yield from 55.8 to 60.4 tonnes per acre per year and 15% reduction in irrigation water for sugarcane.
• It enables precise irrigation planning, conserving water without affecting crop yield.

iii.It demonstrated success in diverse crops like brinjal, banana, groundnut, pomegranate, tomato, and potted plants.
iv.A digital, Android-compatible version called Digital Soil Moisture Sensor (DSMS) has also been created through public–private partnership.
National Integration and Applications of SMI:
i.Adopted in water conservation programs across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh.
ii.Included in the National Occupational Standard for Sugarcane Cultivators and central subsidy schemes, and promoted during Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (Developed Agriculture Mission) in Tamil Nadu, receiving strong farmer engagement.
About the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW):
Union Minister- Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency – Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ram Nath Thakur (Rajya Sabha Bihar); Bhagirath Choudhary (Constituency- Ajmer, Rajasthan)

Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem District Won Open-Source GIS Cohort Award 
In July 2025, Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana was honoured with two national-level awards :‘National Geospatial Practitioner Award’ and ‘Open Source GIS Cohort Award’, for its innovative application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in public service delivery and rural development during the ‘Open Source GIS Day’ held at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

•  The award was received by Bhadradri Kothagudem District Collector Jitesh V. Patil from former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar.

i.The award, part of the National Geospatial Awards 2025 (Edition 02), is organized by IIT Bombay’s Free and Open Source Software for Education (FOSSEE) GIS under the Ministry of Education (MoE). It recognizes the district’s effective use of GIS to improve public services.
ii.The district was recognized for its effective use of GIS across multiple public service areas, including flood prediction, inter-departmental data integration, and agricultural interventions.
iii.The event also honored Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University (SKLTGHU), Telangana, with the Best University Award and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for its outstanding application of open-source spatial technologies.

OBITUARY

Oscar-Winning Lyricist Alan Bergman Passed Away 
On 17th July 2025, Alan Jay Bergman, an Oscar-, Grammy-, and Emmy-winning American lyricist, passed away at the age of 99 in Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA). He was born on 11th September 1925 in New York, USA.
Awards & Honours:
i.Academy Awards (Oscars): 

• 1969 – Best Original Song for “The Windmills of Your Mind” (from The Thomas Crown Affair), shared with Marilyn Bergman and composer Michel Legrand.
• 1974 – Best Original Song for “The Way We Were”, shared with Marilyn Bergman and composer Marvin Hamlisch.
• 1984 – Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score for “Yentl”, shared with Marilyn Bergman and Michel Legrand.

ii.Grammy Awards: Honoured with the Grammy Trustees Award in 1997 (with Marilyn Bergman) for lifetime achievement in music.
iii.Emmy Awards: Four Emmy Awards for outstanding music and lyrics in television specials and films, including Sybil (1977) and A Ticket to Dream (1981).
Note* – Alan Bergman, along with his wife Marilyn, created iconic songs that won awards.

STATE NEWS

Tamil Nadu Day 2025 Celebrated on 18th July
On 18th July 2025, the Government of Tamil Nadu (TN) celebrated Tamil Nadu Day to mark the 1967 resolution by then TN Chief Minister(CM) C.N. Annadurai , which led to the renaming of Madras State as Tamil Nadu, affirming Tamil identity and regional pride.

• Following the proposal by C.N. Annadurai, the name ‘Tamil Nadu’, meaning “Land of Tamils“, was later approved by the Parliament of India.

i.TN was originally formed as Madras State on 1st November 1956 during the reorganisation of states based on linguistic lines.
ii.In 2022, the DMK-led government, under CM Muthuvel Karunanidhi (M.K.) Stalin officially declared 18th July as Tamil Nadu Day by rescinding a previous order by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government, which had designated 1st November as the day of observance.

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