NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Delhi Makes Pink Saheli Smart Card Mandatory for Free Bus Travel from August 1, 2026: Pink Saheli Smart Card is a digital travel card for women and transgender residents of Delhi (12 years and above), launched on 2 March 2026, and integrated with the One Nation, One Card (National Common Mobility Card – NCMC) framework. From 1 August 2026, the card will become mandatory for availing free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses, while pink paper tickets will remain valid only until 31 July 2026. The card enables digital validation of free bus journeys and requires a Delhi Aadhaar card along with an Aadhaar-linked mobile number for registration, replacing the existing paper ticket system.
2. ONGC to Build 1.75 MMT Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Mangalore to Strengthen India’s Energy Security: ONGC will build a new 1.75 million metric tonne (MMT) Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in Mangalore, Karnataka, to strengthen India’s energy security and emergency crude oil storage capacity. India currently has 5.33 MMT of strategic crude oil storage at Mangalore, Padur, and Visakhapatnam (Vizag), managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL), with part of the capacity commercially leased. India is expanding its strategic petroleum reserves through international cooperation, including with the UAE (ADNOC) and Japan, while also planning 4 MMT storage at Chandikhol (Odisha) and an additional 2.5 MMT facility at Padur.
3. Harela Festival Celebrated in Uttarakhand to Mark the Beginning of the Holy Month of Sawan: Harela, one of the most significant traditional festivals of Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region, is celebrated to mark the beginning of the holy month of Sawan (Shravan). The festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and symbolizes prosperity, greenery, environmental conservation, and the arrival of the monsoon season.
4. ICMR to Establish High-Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research Centre in Himachal Pradesh: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will lay the foundation stone of the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong, Himachal Pradesh, to strengthen climate-resilient healthcare and biomedical research in the Himalayan region. The new ICMR centre will upgrade the existing Keylong field station into a multidisciplinary research hub, focusing on high-altitude physiology, acclimatisation, maternal and child health, disaster medicine, and public health research. The centre will integrate telemedicine, digital health platforms, drone-enabled healthcare logistics, and real-time public health surveillance, while collaborating with AFMS, DRDO, the Himachal Pradesh Government, and leading research institutions to support Atmanirbhar Bharat and climate-resilient healthcare.
5. Grey Hornbill returns to Gujarat’s Gir forests after six decades: The Indian Grey Hornbill, also known as Chilotro, has been reintroduced into the Gir forests of Gujarat after an absence of more than six decades. A scientific study in the peer-reviewed journal Birds records that the reintroduced birds are surviving and breeding in the wild. The Gir landscape in Gujarat is known for the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion in India. The reintroduction programme released 40 hornbills in two phases, with 28 birds in 2021-2022 and 12 birds in 2023. Eleven male hornbills were fitted with satellite transmitters to track movement, habitat use, and breeding behaviour. Two tagged males were named LK and RSD in memory of ornithologists Lavkumar Khachar and R.S. Dharmakumarsinhji.
6. Assam Manohari Gold Tea Craftsmanship: Manohari Gold Tea is a rare speciality tea from the Manohari Tea Estate in Assam. It is made from tender tea buds of the P126 tea clone and is processed through hand-plucking, hand-rolling, and natural sun-drying during the second flush season in June. Manohari Gold Tea comes from Assam, which is India’s largest tea-producing state. The tea uses only tender buds, and its daily production is about 25 grams. The second flush season in Assam usually falls between May and June and is known for tea leaves with a stronger flavour profile. Manohari Gold Tea has set multiple auction records in India. In December 2022, it sold for Rs 1.15 lakh per kg on the Tea Inntech private auction portal, and R.K. Tea Sales bought it for Café Nilofer of Hyderabad. In December 2021, 1 kg of Manohari Gold tea sold for Rs 99,999 per kg at the Gauhati Tea Auction Centre. In January 2024, Manohari Gold Speciality Tea sold for Rs 75,000 per kg at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Rajasthan Becomes First Indian State to Sign Clean Energy Framework with International Solar Alliance: Rajasthan became the first Indian state to sign the Framework for Action – Advanced Clean Energy, Driven Sustainable Development with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to accelerate clean energy expansion and modernise its power sector. The partnership supports Rajasthan’s target of 125 GW of clean energy capacity, focusing on renewable energy expansion, transmission upgrades, battery storage, smart grids, digitalisation, energy efficiency, and policy reforms during 2030–35. Rajasthan currently has over 42 GW of installed solar capacity and a total clean energy portfolio of nearly 48 GW. The framework also includes an AI-enabled digital twin pilot at Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam to improve demand forecasting and renewable energy integration. The initiative will also promote decentralised solar power, provide training and technical assistance through ISA, strengthen implementation of the PM KUSUM Scheme and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and ensure affordable and reliable electricity across the state.
2. New Delhi Ranks 120th in EIU Global Liveability Index 2026; Copenhagen Tops Global List: New Delhi ranked 120th out of 173 cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026, followed by Mumbai (121st), Chennai (123rd), and Bengaluru (127th). Copenhagen (Denmark) retained its position as the world’s most liveable city for the second consecutive year, ahead of Vienna (Austria) and Melbourne (Australia). The EIU Global Liveability Index 2026 assessed 173 cities across 30 indicators grouped into five categories: stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education, and infrastructure. New Delhi scored 48.1 overall, with 66.7 in education, 58.9 in infrastructure, 41.7 in healthcare, and 35.4 in culture & environment, highlighting areas requiring improvement in urban liveability.
3. Former Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Dies: Former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, passed away. He served as the Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013, overseeing a period of significant economic growth and modernization. Sheikh Hamad played a pivotal role in transforming Qatar into a major global energy and diplomatic hub, driven by the expansion of its natural gas industry and an active foreign policy.
4. India Launches SHANTI Campaign for UNSC Bid: India launched its official campaign on 13 July 2026 for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-29 term. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled the campaign and India’s SHANTI vision at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The United Nations Security Council has 15 members, including 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected by the United Nations General Assembly. Non-permanent members serve two-year terms, and elections are held by regional group allocation. The Asia-Pacific Group has one seat in the 2028-29 election cycle, and India will contest that seat against Tajikistan in elections scheduled for June 2027. India has served eight terms as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, including the 2021-22 term.
5. India Chairs BRICS Labour Ministers’ Meeting on AI and Jobs: The BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting was held in Hyderabad, India, on 15 July 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026. Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the ministerial session with labour ministers and delegates from all BRICS member states. BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and it holds ministerial meetings on labour and employment issues. The 2026 meeting used the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The ministers adopted the Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration at the Hyderabad meeting. The declaration covered resilient, inclusive and future-ready labour markets, social security, formalisation of work, women’s workforce participation, employability, skills development, and digital technologies for workers in the gig and platform economy.
6. Nine European Countries and Ukraine Form Missile Defence Coalition: On 13 July 2026, nine European countries and Ukraine formed an Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition in Paris, France. The founding members are Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The coalition has been set up to develop anti-ballistic capabilities and a shared missile defence architecture for Europe. Anti-ballistic missile defence refers to systems designed to detect, track, intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles. Ballistic missiles follow a high-arc trajectory after launch, and missile defence systems use sensors, command networks and interceptors to counter them. The Patriot system of the United States is one of the best-known air and missile defence systems in service.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Aero India 2027 to Showcase India’s Defence Strength at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Station: Aero India 2027 will be the 16th edition of Asia’s largest airshow, to be held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is a biennial event organised under the Ministry of Defence, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the nodal agency. The Government aims to achieve ₹3 lakh crore in defence manufacturing and ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029–30, with Aero India playing a key role in strengthening India’s indigenous defence and aerospace ecosystem.
2. Indian Army Seeks 450 Indigenous Carl Gustaf M4 Rocket Launchers to Boost Infantry Firepower: The Indian Army has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 450 Carl Gustaf Mark-IV (M4) 84mm lightweight rocket launchers, a shoulder-fired, multi-role recoilless weapon system designed for anti-armour and infantry operations. Developed by Sweden’s Saab, the Carl Gustaf M4 weighs less than 7 kg, making it significantly lighter than the earlier M2 (14 kg) and M3 (10 kg) variants, which have been in service with the Indian Army since the 1970s. The Carl Gustaf M4 will be manufactured in India at Saab’s facility in Reliance MET City, Jhajjar (Haryana), India’s first 100% foreign-owned defence manufacturing unit, with the system designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +50°C.
3. INS Sudarshini Joins Sail Boston 2026 Parade: INS Sudarshini, the Indian Naval Sail Training Ship, arrived in Boston on 12 July 2026 for the Grand Parade of Sails at Sail Boston 2026. The vessel joined an international fleet of more than 60 tall ships from over 20 nations and was open to visitors in Boston from 12 July to 15 July 2026. INS Sudarshini is a sail training ship of the Indian Navy. Sail training ships are used for seamanship training, navigation practice, and ceremonial naval participation. The ship flew the Indian Tricolour during its Parade of Sail in New York on 4 July 2026. INS Sudarshini is part of the Indian Navy’s 10-month transoceanic expedition named Lokayan 2026. The expedition began on 20 January 2026 from Kochi and includes port calls in the United States and other maritime engagements.
4. Indigenous Surveillance Airships to Strengthen India’s Border Monitoring: India has initiated the Airship-based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS) programme for indigenous stratospheric airships designed for long-endurance surveillance missions. The programme has an estimated outlay of ₹15,000 crore and is linked to border monitoring, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and long-range communications. High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS) are lighter-than-air or fixed-wing platforms that operate in the stratosphere, usually at altitudes of 20 km to 30 km. These platforms remain below low-Earth orbit satellites, which generally operate between 500 km and 2,000 km, and above many high-altitude drones that fly at around 12 km. The Directorate of Operations (Remote) of the Indian Air Force is steering the project under the Make-I procurement framework. Under this framework, the government can fund up to 70% of development costs for selected private partners, and the programme seeks indigenous development of airship systems and payload integration.
SPORTS
1. India Wins Five Gold Medals, Secures Joint Top Rank at International Physics Olympiad 2026: India won five gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026, held in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The gold medal winners are Kanishk Jain (Pune), Riddhesh Anant Bendale (Indore), Rishit Garg (New Delhi), Shresth Suraiya (Mumbai), and Svarit Joshi (Ahmedabad). India secured the joint first position along with Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Taiwan, in the competition featuring 381 students from 87 countries. The achievement highlights the success of India’s Olympiad programme led by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a National Centre of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), and was congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy.
2. Sourav Ganguly, Anjum Chopra and Kevin Pietersen Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame: The International Cricket Council (ICC) inducted Sourav Ganguly (India), Anjum Chopra (India), and Kevin Pietersen (England) into the ICC Hall of Fame during a ceremony held in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sourav Ganguly became the 10th Indian men’s cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, joining legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag, Vinoo Mankad, Bishan Singh Bedi, and MS Dhoni. Anjum Chopra became only the third Indian woman to receive the honour, after Diana Edulji and Neetu David, recognising her outstanding contribution to Indian women’s cricket.
3. Delhi unveils Mayur mascot for Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships: Delhi unveiled Mayur as the mascot for the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships 2026 on 14 July 2026. The 22nd edition of the championship will be held at Thyagaraj Stadium in Delhi from 27 July to 2 August 2026. The Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships is an international table tennis competition for Commonwealth nations. The 2026 edition is the 22nd edition of the event and is scheduled in Delhi under joint organisation by the Delhi government and the Table Tennis Federation of India. Mayur is inspired by the peacock, which is India’s national bird. The mascot is linked with themes of energy, hospitality, and unity, which are commonly used in sporting event branding.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Assam to Develop India’s First State-Owned Earth Observation Satellite System ‘AssamSAT’: Assam will develop AssamSAT, India’s first State-owned Earth Observation Satellite System, to provide real-time satellite-based data for governance and development. AssamSAT will support disaster management, flood monitoring, agriculture, and natural resource monitoring, enhancing data-driven planning and emergency response across the state.
2. JAXA Successfully Conducts First Test Flight of Reusable RV-X Rocket: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully conducted the first test flight of its experimental reusable rocket, Reusable Vehicle eXperiment (RV-X), at the Noshiro Testing Center, Akita Prefecture, where the rocket lifted off, hovered, moved horizontally, and landed safely. The RV-X is a 7.3-metre-long, 1.8-metre-diameter reusable rocket equipped with a high-durability engine and four shock-absorbing landing legs, developed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to demonstrate reusable launch technology. Development of RV-X began in 2016, with its engine completing over 160 combustion tests. JAXA aims to deploy cost-effective reusable rockets by the early 2030s, eventually replacing the H3 rocket as Japan’s primary launch vehicle.
3. Dhruva Space Gets ₹60 Crore from Antariksh Fund: Hyderabad-based spacetech company Dhruva Space secured ₹60 crore from the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund on 13 July 2026. The company became the first recipient of investment from the fund, which is India’s sovereign space-tech fund with a corpus of ₹1,600 crore. The Antariksh Venture Capital Fund is anchored by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, known as IN-SPACe. SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd manages the fund, which was created to provide institutional capital to private space-technology companies at different stages of growth. The ₹60 crore investment forms part of Dhruva Space’s ongoing pre-Series B round. The round now totals ₹275 crore, including ₹150 crore in equity and ₹125 crore in debt financing. Dhruva Space is a full-stack space engineering solutions provider based in Hyderabad. Its business areas include satellite platforms, space infrastructure, mission services, and strategic national programmes.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s Retail Inflation Rises to 4.4% in June: India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 4% in June 2026, up from 3.93% in May 2026, crossing the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 4% inflation target for the first time since January 2025. The rise in inflation was primarily driven by higher food and fuel prices, influenced by the West Asia crisis and a weaker-than-normal monsoon, making it the highest retail inflation level in 18 months.
2. What is PMFME Scheme?: The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme is a Central Sector scheme launched in June 2020 under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. By 11 July 2026, the scheme had sanctioned loans to over two lakh micro food processing enterprises across India. The PMFME Scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries for the formalisation and support of micro food processing units. The scheme provides credit-linked support, seed capital, training, and assistance for common infrastructure in the food processing sector. The scheme has leveraged project investments of more than Rs 20,300 crore. It has generated nearly 11 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities, which include jobs in production, processing, packaging, and allied activities.
3. Government Releases First Services Production Index: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released India’s first trial Index of Services Production (ISP) for April 2026 on 14 July 2026. The trial index covers 19 formal services sub-sectors and uses 2024-25 as the base year. The Index of Services Production is a monthly indicator for measuring short-term changes in the output of the formal services sector. The index is designed to complement the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which measures changes in industrial output in India. The inaugural ISP covers 19 formal services sub-sectors, which together represent about 60% of India’s formal services economy. The base year 2024-25 provides the reference period for comparing monthly movements in the index.
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