School Assembly News Headlines: 18 July 2025

1. UIDAI Deactivates 1.17 Crore Aadhaar Numbers of Deceased, Collaborates with Registrar General to Clean Aadhaar Database
UIDAI has deactivated 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals using death records from 24 States and UTs. Deactivation for non-CRS regions is also underway with ongoing data validation.

2. Nitin Gupta Appointed NFRA Chairperson; Smita Jhingran and P. Daniel Named Full-Time Members of NEFRA
The Appointments Committee approved Nitin Gupta as NFRA Chairperson. Smita Jhingran and P. Daniel were appointed Full-Time Members of NEFRA, strengthening financial and regulatory oversight with experienced leadership.

3. Indore Retains Cleanest City Title for 8th Year in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25; Surat and Navi Mumbai Follow
Indore topped the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings for the eighth consecutive time. Surat, Navi Mumbai, and Vijaywada also featured, while Noida led the 3–10 lakh population category.

4. Amarnath Yatra Suspended Due to Heavy Rain Alert; No Pilgrim Batch Allowed from Jammu After Landslide Incident
The Amarnath Yatra was suspended on Thursday amid heavy rain warnings across Jammu and Kashmir. This follows a landslide on the Baltal route that killed one woman and injured three others.

5. China Backs Russia’s Move to Revive RIC Troika; Talks Underway with India and Beijing for Trilateral Cooperation
China expressed support for Russia’s proposal to restart the Russia-India-China (RIC) dialogue, citing benefits for regional and global stability. Moscow confirmed ongoing negotiations with Beijing and New Delhi to resume the format.

6. Health Ministry Clarifies Oil and Sugar Board Advisory; No Warning Labels Mandated for Traditional Indian Foods
The Health Ministry clarified its advisory promotes awareness of excess oil and sugar intake, not mandatory warning labels for foods like samosas or jalebis. Boards aim to encourage healthier eating habits.

1. Delhi to Conduct Mock Drills at 10+ Locations to Assess Emergency Response and Terror Attack Preparedness
Delhi Police and other agencies will conduct mock drills at multiple sites to test emergency response systems and coordination among stakeholders, aiming to strengthen preparedness in the event of a terror strike.

2. Karnataka Govt Blames RCB, Event Partners for Bengaluru Stampede That Killed 11 Outside Chinnaswamy Stadium
The Karnataka Government told the High Court that RCB, DNA Networks, and KSCA held an IPL victory celebration without police consultation or proper permissions, leading to a deadly stampede last month.

3. Bihar Govt Announces Free Electricity Up to 125 Units, Solar Power Plan for Poor Families Under Kutir Jyoti Scheme
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announced free electricity up to 125 units from next month, benefiting 1.67 crore families. Solar panels will be installed on rooftops, fully funded for extremely poor households.

1. Thailand Offers to Scrap Tariffs on 90% of US Goods to Avert Trump’s Trade Levy Threat
Thailand’s new proposal aims to remove tariffs and trade barriers on 90% of US goods, around 10,000 products—to avoid potential trade penalties from the United States under Trump’s threat.

2. US Senate Passes $9 Billion Spending Cut Bill Targeting Public Broadcasting, Foreign Aid; Awaits House Approval
The US Senate approved a $9 billion spending cuts bill by 51–48 vote, impacting public broadcasting and foreign aid. The measure, needing House approval, must pass by Friday midnight.

3. Demolition of Satyajit Ray’s Ancestral Home in Bangladesh Sparks Outrage; Authorities Halt Work Amid Heritage Objections
The demolition of a 200-year-old house linked to Satyajit Ray’s family in Mymensingh drew strong criticism. Authorities paused work after objections from heritage groups and the Archaeological Department surfaced.