A senior Army officer has been booked for a “murderous assault” on four SpiceJet staff members at Srinagar airport on July 26. The altercation erupted when the officer, carrying 16 kg of cabin luggage, well above the 7 kg limit refused to pay the excess fee and attempted to bypass boarding protocols. After being escorted back by CISF personnel, he violently attacked staff using punches, kicks, and a queue stand. One employee suffered a spinal fracture, another a broken jaw, and one collapsed unconscious but was still kicked. SpiceJet filed an FIR, submitted CCTV footage, and initiated a no-fly ban. The Army acknowledged the incident and is cooperating with the investigation.

A 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Odisha, who was allegedly set ablaze on July 19, succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Delhi after battling 75% burns. Initially believed to be a case of abduction and assault by three unidentified men, Odisha Police now claim no third-party involvement, citing findings from a 15-day investigation. The girl’s statement was recorded before a magistrate, but no arrests have been made. Her death has sparked political outrage, with leaders across party lines expressing grief and demanding justice. The victim’s father urged against politicizing the tragedy, while calls for compensation and accountability continue to mount amid heightened security and public anger. (PC: Getty Images)

Controversy erupted in Ahmedabad after posters warning women to "stay home to avoid rape or gang rape" appeared across the city with alleged backing from the traffic police. These posters, placed in areas like Sola and Chandlodia, cautioned against attending late-night parties or venturing into isolated spots, sparking widespread outrage for promoting victim-blaming and reinforcing patriarchal norms. The Ahmedabad police swiftly disassociated themselves from the campaign, stating the posters were created without official consent by the NGO Satarkta. Senior officials, including DCP Neeta Desai, condemned the messaging, ordered their removal, and initiated an investigation into the unauthorized display.  

A groundbreaking study highlighted in the Asia Pacific Lung Cancer Policy Consensus, released on August 1, 2025, reveals that Delhi’s toxic air is increasingly causing lung cancer in non‑smokers . A long-term review by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Lung Care Foundation shows that in 1988, nearly 90% of lung cancer surgery patients were smokers—by 2018, that proportion dropped to 50%. Among patients under 50, 70% were non‑smokers; none under 30 had smoked . Experts warn that environmental triggers—PM₂.₅ exposure, industrial emissions, cooking fumes, and second‑hand smoke—are fueling this public health crisis. Doctors urge urgent policy action, expanded screening, and tougher pollution controls. (PC: ET)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Partha Sarathi Biswal, MD of Odisha-based Biswal Tradelink Pvt Ltd (BTPL), the first arrest in the ₹3,000‑crore alleged loan fraud involving the Reliance ADAG group . Biswal is accused of arranging a fake ₹68.2 crore bank guarantee to the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on behalf of Reliance Power, backed by forged SBI endorsements and spoofed emails . Investigators uncovered multiple undisclosed bank accounts and dummy directors used by BTPL to launder funds received for the fake guarantee . The ED also issued a lookout circular against Anil Ambani and has summoned him for questioning on 5 August. (PC: Bloomberg)

Former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, recently acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, claimed she was tortured by Maharashtra ATS officers and coerced into naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and others. She stated interrogators repeatedly told her: “Name these people and we won’t beat you.” Thakur alleged a political conspiracy by the then-Congress-led government to defame saffron ideology and the armed forces. She further accused deliberate neglect of her health while in custody. The court, however, dismissed her torture allegations citing lack of evidence. (PC: PTI)

The Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, operating from Ahmedabad to London, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff on 12 June 2025, killing 241 onboard and 19 on the ground, with only one survivor . The AAIB’s preliminary investigation points to both engines losing power after fuel control switches were moved to “CUTOFF,” a highly unlikely event given safety locks . Cockpit audio features a tense exchange—one pilot asking why fuel was cut off, and the other replying, “I didn’t do it” . However, aviation experts argue the report ignored critical FADEC telemetry and omitted altitude data, sparking claims of narrative bias toward pilot blame. (PC: India Today)

A cofferdam at the Malana‑I Hydropower Project in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, collapsed on August 2, 2025 following prolonged heavy monsoon rainfall, unleashing flash floods that swept away vehicles and heavy machinery—including a hydra crane, dumper truck, rock breaker and camper—at the construction site . Though the damage was significant, fortunately no casualties have been reported . The incident underscores the growing vulnerability of critical infrastructure to extreme weather events linked to climate change. Emergency response and safety assessments are reportedly underway to evaluate structural resilience. 

IndiGo Airlines has suspended a passenger from flying on any of its flights after he slapped a co-passenger mid-air on flight 6E-2387 from Mumbai to Silchar via Kolkata. The victim, Hossain Ahmed Majumdar from Assam, was reportedly experiencing a panic attack when the assault occurred. A viral video shows the moment of the slap and crew members intervening. IndiGo condemned the act as “completely unacceptable” and handed the assailant over to CISF upon landing. The airline cited regulatory provisions for the suspension, emphasizing its commitment to passenger safety. Meanwhile, Majumdar has gone missing after failing to board his connecting flight, prompting a police complaint and growing public concern.

Massive nationwide protests have erupted over widespread mismanagement during the SSC Selection Post Phase 13 exams held from July 24 to August 1, 2025. Aspirants reported abrupt cancellations, technical glitches, biometric failures, and misallocated exam centers as many traveling hundreds of kilometers only to find their exams canceled without notice. Viral videos show students being mistreated at centers, fueling outrage and trending hashtags like #SSCMisManagement and #JusticeForAspirants. The unrest is linked to SSC’s recent vendor switch to Eduquity Career Technologies, which critics say lacks capacity for large-scale exams. Protests peaked in Delhi under the “Delhi Chalo” campaign, with demands for vendor review, systemic reform, and accountability from SSC officials.