Top News Today (4 August): India, World, Economy & Odisha

India

1. Kejriwal Protests E20 Fuel Policy, Demands Regular Petrol Option
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal protested against mandatory E20 petrol, demanding regular petrol remain available for older vehicles. AAP claims to have collected over 2.3 lakh signatures and plans to submit the petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

2. Supreme Court Calls for Encroachment-Free Footpaths Across India
The Supreme Court directed authorities to ensure properly demarcated, encroachment-free pedestrian spaces on roads nationwide, reiterating that safe walking is linked to fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21. Simple measures such as painted or roped-off pathways were suggested.

3. Lok Sabha Passes Bill to Raise Supreme Court Strength to 38 Judges
Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing to increase the sanctioned strength of the apex court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India, to address rising case pendency.

World

4. Nauru Reclaims Traditional Name, Becomes ‘Republic of Naoero’
The Pacific island nation of Nauru has officially restored its traditional name, becoming the Republic of Naoero. Led by President David Adeang, the move aims to reclaim indigenous identity, alongside adopting NRO as its international code and dei-Naoero as the demonym.

5. Nawaz Sharif Expresses Desire to Become Prime Minister of PoK
Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif has expressed interest in becoming the prime minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad, he said he would seek the position if his PML-N secured victory in the regional elections.

Economy

6. RBI Keeps Repo Rate Unchanged at 5.25% Amid Global Uncertainty
The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee kept the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, adopting a wait-and-watch approach amid global uncertainty, crude oil price volatility and inflation concerns while maintaining its current monetary policy stance.

7. UPI Convenience May Be Driving Higher Impulse Spending, Survey Finds
The growing convenience of UPI payments may be encouraging frequent impulse purchases among middle-class households. Small digital transactions on food, shopping and everyday expenses can accumulate significantly, highlighting the need for consumers to closely track monthly spending.

Odisha

8. Odisha CM Announces ₹110 Crore Initial Flood Relief Package
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced ₹110 crore in immediate assistance for flood-affected areas across 22 districts. The package includes compensation for deaths, damaged houses and crop losses, while 199 ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Services teams support rescue operations.