NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Centre Approves Two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters in Tamil Nadu Worth ₹1,012 Cr: The Centre has approved two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) in Tamil Nadu with a combined investment of over ₹1,012 crore to strengthen the state’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem and promote self-reliance. The Manallur EMC will be developed over 474.3 acres at a cost of ₹587.47 crore, while the Pillapaikkam EMC will cover 379.3 acres with an investment of ₹424.55 crore. India’s electronics manufacturing has grown significantly, with production increasing from ₹1.9 lakh crore (2014-15) to ₹13.11 lakh crore (2025-26) and exports rising from ₹38,000 crore to ₹4.24 lakh crore, supported by PLI schemes, liberalised FDI, tax reforms, and labour reforms. India now manufactures 99.2% of the mobile phones sold domestically, with mobile phone production reaching ₹6.27 lakh crore and exports ₹2.59 lakh crore. The sector provides employment to around 25 lakh people, while Tamil Nadu has emerged as a major electronics manufacturing hub.
2. India Becomes the World’s Second Most Electrified Major Railway Network with 99.6% Broad Gauge Electrification: India has electrified 99.6% of its broad gauge railway network, making it the second most electrified major railway system in the world after Switzerland (100%). The remaining routes are currently under electrification. Railway electrification has accelerated significantly since 2014, with 48,072 route km electrified between 2014–2026, compared to 21,801 route km electrified over nearly six decades before 2014. India now surpasses several major railway networks in electrification, including China (82%), Spain (67%), Japan (64%), France (60%), and the United Kingdom (39%). Railway electrification has promoted sustainable transport, as rail emits only 11.5 grams of CO₂ per tonne-km, nearly 89% lower than road transport (101 grams). Diesel consumption has also declined from 293 crore litres (2015–16) to 108 crore litres (2024–25). Indian Railways is expanding renewable energy use, with 1,161 MW of solar power and 103 MW of wind power commissioned by June 2026, taking the total renewable energy capacity to over 1,260 MW.
3. Union Cabinet Approves ₹3,030 Crore BHAVYA Rasayan Scheme for Three Chemical Parks: The Union Cabinet approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan (BHAVYA Rasayan) scheme with an outlay of ₹3,030 crore to establish three dedicated chemical parks across India during FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31. Under the scheme, ₹3,000 crore has been allocated for common infrastructure development within the chemical parks, while ₹30 crore has been earmarked for administrative expenses. The Centre will provide up to ₹1,000 crore assistance for each park. The chemical parks will be selected through a challenge-based process and developed by state governments. Each park must have at least 2,000 acres (8 sq. km.) of contiguous, encumbrance-free land, with the respective state contributing a minimum of ₹500 crore. The parks will adopt a plug-and-play industrial model and include facilities such as Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs), water supply systems, and logistics infrastructure to promote sustainable chemical manufacturing.
4. Andhra Pradesh Approves State’s First Private Women’s University: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has approved the establishment of Vishnu Women’s University, the first private women’s university in the state. The Cabinet approved a proposal to promulgate an ordinance amending the Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2016, to facilitate the university’s establishment. The initiative aims to expand higher education opportunities for women and strengthen the state’s private higher education ecosystem through the establishment of a dedicated women’s university.
5. 22 July – National Mango Day: National Mango Day is observed every year on 22 July to celebrate the mango, India’s national fruit, and to highlight its cultural, nutritional, and economic significance. India is the largest producer of mangoes in the world, contributing around 40% of global mango production, with major producing states including Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and Maharashtra.
6. Anti-Paper Leak Bill Approved by Union Cabinet: The Union Cabinet approved a new anti-paper leak bill on 24 July 2026. The bill is scheduled for introduction in Parliament on Monday, during the second week of the Monsoon session. The proposed law is linked to measures against paper leaks in public examinations, including cases related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. Public examinations in India include recruitment tests, entrance examinations, and other tests conducted by public authorities. Paper leaks, impersonation, and unauthorised access to question papers are treated as forms of unfair means in examination law. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, was enacted to address such offences in public examinations.
7. Supreme Court Seeks Amendment to National Highways Act: The Supreme Court of India on 23 July 2026 stated that it is prima facie unacceptable for bureaucrats to decide land compensation disputes under the National Highways Act, 1956. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana urged the Union government to amend the law so that judicially trained adjudicators handle such disputes. The National Highways Act, 1956 is a Central law that provides for the declaration, acquisition, and maintenance of national highways in India. It is one of the principal statutes used for land acquisition for highway projects, including widening, expansion, and construction of new road corridors.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Viswanathan Anand Takes Charge as Interim President of FIDE: Five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand has taken charge as the Interim President of FIDE (International Chess Federation) after FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich was placed on the European Union’s sanctions list. Anand will serve as Interim President for as long as Arkady Dvorkovich remains subject to the restrictive measures imposed under the applicable Swiss and European Union laws and regulations.
2. 25 July – World Embryologist Day: World Embryologist Day is observed every year on 25 July to recognise the contribution of embryologists in the field of reproductive medicine, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and fertility treatments. Theme 2026 – Creating Hope, Advancing Fertility, Transforming Lives. The day commemorates the birth of the world’s first “test-tube baby”, Louise Brown, who was born on 25 July 1978 in the United Kingdom through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) technology. Embryologists play a crucial role in IVF procedures, including the handling of eggs and sperm, embryo development, embryo selection, and improving success rates of fertility treatments.
3. Government Bars Telecom Data Sharing Abroad: On 24 July 2026, the Government of India barred communication infrastructure providers from sharing telecommunication data outside India. The Department of Telecommunications issued a notification dated 20 July 2026 and created an authorisation framework for telecom-related data storage and access within India. The directive requires telecommunication data, logs, and information linked to telecom networks to remain stored within India. The rule covers cloud-based telecom networks, mobile towers, and satellite gateways, which are part of the country’s communication infrastructure. The new rules form part of the shift from a licensing regime to a regulatory framework under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The Act provides the legal basis for authorisation, compliance checks, and oversight of telecom entities operating in India.
4. CMFRI Launches DeepDATA App for Deep-Sea Fish Documentation: The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) launched DeepDATA on 23 July 2026 as a mobile application for deep-sea fish documentation. The app provides scientifically verified information on deep-sea fish species and allows users to upload field observations for a national digital repository. DeepDATA is a mobile application available on the Google Play Store. It is designed as both a learning platform and a documentation tool for students, researchers, fishermen, and marine enthusiasts. The app includes species-level information on taxonomy, identifying features, distribution, and conservation status. It also supports the collection of photographs and observations from fishing operations, research cruises, and coastal visits.
5. India Concludes Eighth Trade Policy Review at WTO: India concluded its Eighth Trade Policy Review at the World Trade Organization in Geneva on 24 July 2026. The review sessions were held on 21 July and 23 July 2026, and the exercise covered India’s trade policies from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025. The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is one of the WTO’s three core functions, along with trade negotiations and dispute settlement. It examines the trade and related policies of WTO members on a regular basis. India is a founding member of the WTO, which came into force on 1 January 1995. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal led the Indian delegation during the review. India received 1,094 written questions from 44 WTO members, and 68 members made interventions across the two sessions. WTO members also noted India’s acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which was adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in June 2022.
6. India Hosts 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting: India hosted the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh from 22 to 24 July 2026 under its BRICS Chairship 2026. The meeting brought together health ministers, senior officials, and technical experts from the 11-member BRICS grouping, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda chaired the Health Ministers’ Meeting on 23 July 2026. The members unanimously adopted the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Declaration, which refers to universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness, digital health, and equitable access to medicines. The meeting theme was “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The discussions covered health security, digital health, pandemic preparedness, and equitable access to quality healthcare. The agenda also included collaborative research on tuberculosis, prevention and response to mass infectious diseases, and promotion of mental well-being.
7. India Sends 4.5 Tonnes Medical Aid to Kenya: India delivered 4.5 tonnes of medical assistance to Kenya on 22 July 2026 for Ebola preparedness and response to other infectious diseases. The first consignment was handed over at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi by Indian High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika to Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale. Ebola virus disease is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever caused by viruses of the genus Ebolavirus. It spreads through direct contact with blood, body fluids, contaminated objects, and infected animals, and it requires strict infection prevention and control measures in health facilities. The shipment contained 279 packages of medical supplies. The consignment included Personal Protective Equipment kits, sample transportation kits, infrared thermometers, face shields, and heavy-duty protective boots. These items are used in disease surveillance, safe sample handling, and frontline worker protection.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Rajnath Singh Hails First-Ever Tri-Services All-Women Global Circumnavigation Expedition ‘Samudra Pradakshina’: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually flagged off the first-ever tri-services all-women circumnavigation expedition, ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, onboard IASV Triveni.
Led by Lieutenant Colonel Anuja Varudkar, with Squadron Leader Shraddha P. Raju as Deputy Expedition Leader, the expedition was flagged off from Gateway of India, Mumbai, on 11 September 2025 and successfully completed a 25,500+ nautical mile voyage around the globe.
The crew crossed the Equator twice, rounded the three Great Capes—Cape Leeuwin (Australia), Cape Horn (South America), and Cape of Good Hope (Africa)—and completed the journey via an open-ocean route without using the Panama or Suez Canals.
2. Bhargavastra Counter-Drone System: Bhargavastra is an indigenous, vehicle-mounted, multi-layered Counter-Swarm Drone System developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (SDAL) for the Indian Army. It was demonstrated in Nagpur on 24 July 2026 during a Make-II programme status review. Bhargavastra uses a dual-layer kill mechanism. The first layer uses unguided micro-rockets with a lethal radius of 20 metres, and the second layer uses precision-guided micro-missiles with an interception range of up to 2.5 kilometres. The system can detect larger UAVs up to 10 kilometres and smaller drones up to 6 kilometres. It integrates radar, Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors, and passive radio-frequency detectors for target acquisition.
SPORTS
1. V.S. Rathanvel Becomes India’s 99th Chess Grandmaster: S. Rathanvel from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, became India’s 99th Grandmaster (GM) after crossing the 2500 Elo rating mark at the Guwahati Smart City International Open 2026. Although Rathanvel had completed his three Grandmaster norms in 2022, he achieved the GM title only after fulfilling the 2500 Elo rating requirement, overcoming years of perseverance and mental resilience.
2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Becomes Youngest Player to Score a T20I Fifty: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score a T20I fifty, achieving the feat at the age of 15 years and 118 days against Zimbabwe in Harare on 23 July 2026. Playing only his fourth T20I for India, Sooryavanshi smashed a 19-ball half-century (officially reaching the milestone in 18 balls), hitting 4 fours and 4 sixes, surpassing the previous youngest-record holder. The previous record was held by Gibraltar’s Louis Bruce, who scored a T20I fifty at the age of 16 years and 56 days against Malta in August 2021. Sooryavanshi broke the record by more than 300 days.
3. The Oval to Host ICC World Test Championship Final 2027: The Oval, London, has been confirmed as the venue for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2027, which will be held from 9–13 June 2027. It will be the second time The Oval hosts the WTC Final after 2023. The ICC has designated England as the host of the 2027, 2029, and 2031 WTC Finals, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) responsible for selecting the venue for each final. In the current 2025–27 WTC cycle, Australia leads the standings with 87.50% points percentage, followed by South Africa (75%) and New Zealand (72.22%), while India is placed fifth with 48.15%.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. HCLTech to Invest ₹14,257 Crore in Odisha AI Data Centre: HCLTech announced on 24 July 2026 that it will establish its first AI Data Centre in Odisha with a planned capital outlay of ₹14,257 crore. The project will come up at the upcoming Odisha Sovereign AI Park and will involve HCLTech, Indian AI startup Sarvam, and the Government of Odisha. An AI data centre is a computing facility designed to support artificial intelligence workloads, including model training, inference, storage, and networking. Such facilities usually require high-performance computing systems, large-scale power supply, cooling infrastructure, and low-latency connectivity.
2. Karnataka’s Semiconductor Park to Become Operational by December 2026: Karnataka has planned a 200-acre Semiconductor Park at KWIN City near Bengaluru, with operationalisation targeted for December 2026. The park is part of the Knowledge, Wellbeing and Innovation City project and is designed for chip manufacturing, packaging, testing, and electronics production. Semiconductors are materials with electrical conductivity between conductors and insulators, and they are used in integrated circuits, sensors, and electronic devices. Semiconductor parks usually provide shared infrastructure for fabrication, assembly, testing, and related industrial services. The Karnataka park is intended to support the full product cycle from design and development to prototyping, testing, certification, and export. Such industrial clusters are used in electronics manufacturing to reduce logistics costs and improve supply-chain coordination.
3. India’s Private Space Investment Crosses $618 Million: Private investment in India’s space sector crossed USD 618.5 million by 31 March 2026. The cumulative funding rose from USD 100.5 million in 2021-22 to USD 618.5 million by 31 March 2026, and USD 187 million was recorded in 2026 alone. The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, informed the Rajya Sabha about these figures on 23 July 2026. India’s space sector includes non-governmental entities, space startups, and private firms engaged in satellite systems, launch services, and downstream applications. The number of active space startups in India increased from one in 2014 to more than 400 by 2026. This growth is linked to policy changes that opened more space activities to private participation.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. PNB Partners with Andhra Pradesh to Set Up India’s First Quantum Finance Innovation Hub: Punjab National Bank (PNB) signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh Quantum Mission to establish a Quantum Finance Innovation Hub at the Amaravati Quantum Computing Centre, becoming the first bank in India to partner with a state government for such an initiative. The proposed hub will develop quantum technology-based solutions for the banking sector, focusing on cybersecurity, fraud detection, secure digital banking, and promoting research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. The initiative supports the Andhra Pradesh Government’s vision of making Amaravati a global hub for quantum technology and deep-tech innovation, while fostering collaboration among banks, industries, startups, academic institutions, research organisations, and government agencies.
2. Kerala Bank Launches ‘Gen Z Tech Loan’ Scheme for Students at 6.99% Interest: Kerala State Cooperative Bank (Kerala Bank) will launch the ‘Gen Z Tech Loan’ scheme on 27 July to help undergraduate and higher-level students purchase laptops and tablets for educational purposes.
Under the scheme, students can avail of loans up to ₹1 lakh at an interest rate of 6.99%, with a 30-month repayment period, while the parent of the student must act as the guarantor. Borrowers under the Gen Z Tech Loan scheme will also receive a 0.5% concession on the interest rate of educational loans, making higher education financing more affordable.
3. NABARD and MAHAPREIT Sign MoU to Promote Green and Climate-Resilient Rural Infrastructure: NABARD and Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology (MAHAPREIT) signed an MoU to finance and promote green, climate-resilient, and sustainable infrastructure in rural India, with a special focus on Maharashtra. The partnership aims to identify, develop, structure, and finance sustainable projects that enhance rural prosperity, climate resilience, village infrastructure, and strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
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