NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NCW Constitutes Expert Committee to Review Regulations Governing IVF Clinics and ART Centres: National Commission for Women (NCW) has constituted a high-level Expert Committee, chaired by Justice Asha Menon (Former Delhi High Court Judge), to review the regulatory framework governing IVF clinics, ART centres and gamete banks. The committee will assess the implementation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the 2026 Amendment Rules, while identifying regulatory gaps and recommending reforms. The panel will propose Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and best practices to ensure ethical treatment, transparency, informed consent, privacy, and protection of women’s reproductive rights in the ART sector.
2. Sirsa Kinnow Receives GI Tag, Becomes Haryana’s First Exclusive GI-Tagged Fruit: Sirsa Kinnow has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. With this recognition, Sirsa Kinnow has become Haryana’s first fruit and the state’s first exclusive GI-tagged product.
3. CSIR and IP Australia Sign Agreement to Expand Access to Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL): CSIR and IP Australia signed an agreement to provide IP Australia access to the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (CSIR-TKDL) during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit held in Melbourne in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), established in 2001 by CSIR and the Ministry of AYUSH, is the world’s first database for protecting India’s traditional knowledge from wrongful patent claims by serving as a prior art database. The TKDL contains information on over 5.2 lakh formulations and practices from Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Yoga, translated into English, German, French, Japanese, and Spanish to assist patent examiners globally. With this agreement, 18 patent offices worldwide now have access to the CSIR-TKDL under Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), and the database has helped revoke, reject, amend, withdraw, or abandon over 375 patent applications based on documented prior art evidence.
4. NPPA Fixes Retail Prices for 39 Drug Formulations: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority fixed the retail prices of 39 new drug formulations on 8 July 2026 under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. The order covered formulations used in hypertension, diabetes, HIV, heart disease, eye infections, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, epilepsy, pain management, and vitamin deficiencies. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority is a regulatory body under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. It fixes and revises prices of scheduled medicines under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, and monitors compliance with price control provisions.
5. FSSAI Issues Nine Notices to Swiggy Instamart: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart on 11 July 2026 over consumer complaints linked to food safety and labelling issues. The complaints mentioned expired, spoiled, contaminated and unsafe food products sold through the quick-commerce platform. The complaints cited expired whey protein, rotten Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs with a foul smell, contaminated infant formula, spoiled milk products and damaged packaged food items. FSSAI also flagged alleged misleading licensing information, including NOICE Eggs being marketed under a brand category not covered by the existing licence.
6. Joint Parliamentary Committee Backs One Nation, One Election Framework: The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the One Nation, One Election proposal stated on 11 July 2026 that the framework conforms to the Constitution of India. The committee examined the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17 December 2024 and referred to the committee on 19 December 2024. The 41-member Joint Parliamentary Committee is chaired by BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary. The committee has held about 16 meetings, including sittings at the Parliament House Annexe and in several states such as Goa, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, and Gujarat. The committee has consulted legal experts, including six former Chief Justices of India, on constitutional questions related to the proposal. It has also met civil society stakeholders, with about 99% of those consulted supporting simultaneous elections.
7. Centre Launches Amnesty Scheme for PF Trusts: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation launched the Amnesty Scheme, 2026 on 29 June 2026 under the Ministry of Labour & Employment. The scheme gives exempted Provident Fund trusts a one-time six-month window to regularise their status under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. Provident Fund trusts are employer-managed funds that operate under the EPF framework for employee retirement savings. Section 17 of the EPF Act, 1952 provides for exemption from the statutory provident fund arrangement when an establishment meets prescribed conditions. The scheme covers establishments whose PF trusts are recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961 but do not have a formal exemption notification from the Central Government or a State Government. It also applies to cases where trust recognition and exemption status require alignment under the revised compliance framework.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Novo Nordisk Launches Once-Weekly Insulin ‘Awiqli’: Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has launched Awiqli (Insulin Icodec), the world’s first once-weekly basal insulin for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The therapy reduces the number of basal insulin injections from 365 per year to just 52, aiming to improve treatment adherence and address the fear of daily injections. Awiqli (700-unit pack) is priced at ₹2,611 (₹3.73 per unit), making it around 30–40% cheaper than many currently available daily basal insulin options. Novo Nordisk has partnered with Abbott for the distribution of Awiqli in India, extending their existing collaboration for insulin products.
2. Giles Thomson Assumes Charge as FATF President for 2026–2028 Term: Giles Thomson (United Kingdom) assumed office as the President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on 1 July 2026 for a two-year term (2026–2028). He succeeded Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico, whose tenure as FATF President ended on 30 June 2026.
3. South China Sea Arbitral Award Marks 10 Years: The South China Sea Arbitral Award completed 10 years on 12 July 2026. The award was issued on 12 July 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague under the dispute settlement framework linked to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The arbitration case was filed by the Philippines against China under Annex VII of UNCLOS. The tribunal ruled that China’s Nine-Dash Line claim had no legal basis under international law. The award also dealt with maritime entitlements, artificial islands, and activities in the South China Sea. UNCLOS, adopted in 1982 and in force from 1994, is the main treaty governing the law of the sea. It defines the territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf. An EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state’s baseline.
4. India Withdraws 2017 Yemen Travel Restriction: The Ministry of External Affairs withdrew its notification dated 3 October 2017 on 12 July 2026, which had imposed special conditions on Indian citizens travelling to Yemen. The withdrawal order was issued under Section 19(d) of the Passports Act, 1967, and the new gazette notification was dated 10 July 2026. Yemen has faced civil war and armed conflict since 2014, and India had imposed travel restrictions in 2017 because of the precarious security situation. The Ministry of External Affairs continues to advise Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Yemen, and it asks travellers to assess the local security situation before any unavoidable journey. Section 19(d) of the Passports Act, 1967 empowers the Government of India to regulate travel-related matters through official orders. The 2026 notification cancelled the earlier 2017 order that had placed special conditions on Indian citizens travelling to Yemen.
5. Soumya Swaminathan inducted as Fellow of the Royal Society: Soumya Swaminathan was formally inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London on 10 July 2026. She was elected to the fellowship in May 2026. The Royal Society is a scientific academy in the United Kingdom and was founded in 1660. The Fellowship of the Royal Society uses the post-nominal letters FRS. The society elects scientists, engineers, and technologists for contributions to knowledge in natural science, mathematics, and applied science. The Royal Society has a 365-year history in 2026. Soumya Swaminathan became the second Indian woman scientist to receive this fellowship. Prof. Gagandeep Kang was elected in 2019 and became the first Indian woman Fellow of the Royal Society. The fellowship includes several Indian scientists across disciplines.
6. ONGC Drills Second Geothermal Well in Ladakh: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) completed drilling its second geothermal well, Puga-OEC-GT#03, in Puga Valley in Ladakh around July 2026. The well was drilled by the ONGC Energy Centre to a depth of 1,000 metres at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet. Geothermal energy is heat derived from the Earth’s interior and is used for electricity generation and direct heating. Geothermal power plants use steam or hot water from underground reservoirs, and the resource is classified as a renewable energy source. Puga Valley in Ladakh is one of India’s known geothermal fields. Geothermometric studies in the valley have indicated subsurface temperatures above 240 degrees Celsius, a level suitable for geothermal power generation. The field is associated with hot springs and geothermal manifestations in the Himalayan region.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Ex-Servicemen Outreach Event Held in Kohima: Military Station Zakhama conducted an Ex-Servicemen Outreach Programme on 9 July 2026 in Kohima district, Nagaland. The programme covered welfare issues of ex-servicemen, war widows, and dependents, and included sessions on the SPARSH pension system and veteran-related welfare measures. Ex-servicemen are former personnel of the Indian Armed Forces who receive pension, medical, and welfare support through institutional mechanisms such as the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and State Rajya Sainik Boards. The SPARSH system is a digital pension disbursement platform used for defence pension administration in India. On 17 and 18 March 2026, the Red Shield Division under Spear Corps organised a mega Ex-Servicemen rally at Kisama Heritage Village in Kohima. Around 700 veterans, Veer Naris, and Next of Kin attended the rally, which was graced by Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav.
SPORTS
1. Indian Team Wins Five Golds at International Physics Olympiad: India won five gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from 5 to 12 July 2026. The Indian team finished joint World No. 1 with China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan in a competition that included 381 students from 87 countries. The five Indian gold medallists were Kanishk Jain of Pune, Riddhesh Anant Bendale of Indore, Rishit Garg of Delhi, Shresth Suraiya of Mumbai, and Svarit Joshi of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. This was only the second time after 2018 that all five members of the Indian team won gold medals at the IPhO. The Indian delegation was led by Prof. Anwesh Mazumdar of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education and Prof. Leena Joshi of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, under the Department of Atomic Energy, manages India’s Olympiad programme and is responsible for student identification, training, and mentoring.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Japan Tests Experimental Reusable Rocket RV-X: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) completed the first lift-off and landing test of its prototype reusable rocket, RV-X, on 11 July 2026 at the Noshiro Rocket Testing Center in the Akita region of northeastern Japan. The test flight lasted about 40 seconds, with the rocket reaching an altitude of around 10 to 11 metres, moving horizontally for about 16 metres, and landing safely. Reusable rockets are launch vehicles designed to return to Earth and fly again after recovery. The RV-X is 7.3 metres tall and 1.8 metres in diameter, and its engine is designed for about 100 launches. The prototype has already undergone more than 160 combustion tests. JAXA uses the RV-X project to test technologies linked to lower launch costs and improved launch efficiency. Takashi Ito serves as the project manager for the reusable rocket programme. JAXA plans future RV-X tests at higher altitudes, with a target of around 100 metres.
2. ISRO Conducts Three Crew Module Tests for Gaganyaan: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed three qualification tests for the Gaganyaan Crew Module systems on 12 and 13 July 2026. Gaganyaan is India’s first human spaceflight mission, and the tests covered splashdown recovery, module separation, and structural loads on the crew capsule. The first test was the Float Inflation Test for the Crew Module Up-righting System (CMUS). CMUS is designed to turn the crew capsule upright after sea splashdown, and it uses cold-gas technology for inflation and stabilisation. The second test was the Umbilical Separation Test for the Crew Module–Service Module Connect & Disconnect System (CS-CDS). The test demonstrated the separation of the CSU-2 umbilical from a simulated crew module and validated the structural stability of the crew module panel and its interfaces.
3. China’s Brahmaputra Dam Faces Fault Line Risk: China’s mega hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet has been linked to the active Paizhen Fault, which lies directly beneath the dam site in Medog County. The project is also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo downstream hydropower station and the Medog Hydropower Station, and construction formally began in July 2025. The Paizhen Fault has remained active since the Pleistocene, which is the geological epoch commonly called the Ice Age. The fault continues to show seismic activity, and the study linked this activity to risks for the dam foundation, roads, bridges, tunnels, and other associated infrastructure. Geologists stated that prolonged fault movement has fractured and weakened local rock formations. The same geological conditions increase the possibility of landslides, collapses, and damage under regional seismic action and long-term water immersion.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Centre Expands PM-SETU Scheme to 200 ITI Clusters, Approves ₹1,237.58 Crore Investment Plans: The Central Government has approved the nationwide expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme to 200 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters, along with investment plans worth ₹1,237.58 crore.
The approvals were cleared at the 4th meeting of the National Steering Committee (NSC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), with implementation based on states’ readiness and industry participation. Five ITI clusters across Odisha, Gujarat, and Telangana were approved, with Jindal Naveen Avasar Ltd., ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, Apollo MedSkills Ltd., Siddharth Infratech & Services, and Neuland Foundation serving as anchor industry partners. PM-SETU, approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2025, aims to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs through 200 hub-and-spoke clusters and received a budget allocation of ₹6,140.50 crore in the Union Budget 2026–27.
2. Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches ‘Pragati’ Project to Empower 20,000 Agricultural Entrepreneurs and 20 Lakh Farmers: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the PRAGATI (Promoting Regenerative Agriculture Through Agri-Entrepreneurship Initiative) Project to empower over 20,000 agricultural entrepreneurs and benefit around 20 lakh farmers across the country. Under the initiative, the government will train 26,000 small agricultural entrepreneurs, who will work at the village level and collaborate with 100–200 farmers to improve agricultural productivity. The project aims to promote prosperous farmers, prosperous villages, and sustainable agricultural development, supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat through grassroots agricultural transformation.
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