Daily GK Update- 15th July, 2026

 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.

 

Daily GK Update- 14th July, 2026

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. CSIR celebrates women researchers through ASPIRE-SHAKTI initiative: The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) organised ASPIRE-SHAKTI, titled “Celebrating Women in STEM & Initiating Project Review Sessions”, on 13 July 2026 at CSIR Headquarters, Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event was held through the CSIR Human Resource Development Group (CSIR-HRDG), and Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General of CSIR, presided over the function. The CSIR-ASPIRE Research Scheme is a dedicated programme for women researchers under CSIR-HRDG. It was envisioned by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Science & Technology, and launched on International Women’s Day in 2023. The scheme provides competitive funding to women scientists as independent Principal Investigators. It is linked with project review sessions and a compendium of research outcomes under the ASPIRE-SHAKTI initiative.

 

2. All India Water Secretaries’ Conference Held in New Delhi: The All India Water Secretaries’ Conference was held in New Delhi on 13 and 14 July 2026 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The conference brought together around 200 senior officials, including Secretaries from States and Union Territories, for discussions on water governance and resource management. The conference was chaired by Union Minister for Jal Shakti C. R. Patil. Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary and Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, V. L. Kantha Rao, also co-chaired the event. The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

 

3. 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.

 

4. DoT Disconnects Over Five Crore Fake Mobile Connections: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) disconnected over five crore fake mobile connections in a two-year period up to July 2026. The action formed part of telecom fraud control measures linked to cybercrime prevention, recovery of lost or stolen phones, and verification of mobile subscriber records. Fake mobile connections are SIM cards issued using forged, incomplete, or misused identity documents. In August 2025, the government blacklisted nearly 40 lakh SIM cards, flagged 68 lakh mobile numbers for re-verification, and blacklisted 52,000 Point of Sale agents for facilitating fake registrations.

5. 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 ₹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. The company plans to use the new capital for satellite manufacturing, space infrastructure development, and critical technology development. It also serves domestic and international customers in the space sector. Dhruva Space has an order book of more than ₹500 crore across satellite platforms, space infrastructure, mission services, and strategic national programmes.

 

6. Uttarakhand Opens First GI Products Gallery: Uttarakhand opened its first Geographical Indications (GI) Products Gallery at the Uttarakhand Forest Training Academy in Haldwani on 13 July 2026. The gallery displays more than 30 GI-tagged products from the state, including agricultural produce, handicrafts, and cultural items. A Geographical Indication is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation, or characteristics linked to that place. In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, and the registration is administered by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. The gallery includes items such as Bedu, Ramnagar litchi, Ramgarh peach, Tejpat, Munsiyari white rajma, Kumaon chyura oil, and Almora Lakhori chilli. It also features Aipan art, Chamoli wooden Ramman masks, and Uttarakhand Tamta copperware, which represent the state’s artisanal traditions.

 

7. Rare Laudankia Vine Snake Documented in Udaipur: The Laudankia Vine Snake, scientifically named Ahaetulla laudankia, was photographed in the Ubeshwar wildlife area of Udaipur on 12 July 2026. The record was made by wildlife photographer Rohit Dwivedi with guidance from Sharad Agrawal and Deepal Kalra. Ahaetulla laudankia was scientifically described in 2019 and is endemic to India. The species belongs to the vine snake group and is known for a slender, elongated body adapted to arboreal life. The Laudankia Vine Snake has a chestnut-brown body with fine black speckles and pale white patches on the lower part of the head. It usually measures between 80 cm and 1.5 metres in length. The species is diurnal, which means it is active during the day.

 

8. Gujarat’s Unjha Cumin and Fennel Get GI Tags: Unjha Cumin (Jeera) and Unjha Fennel (Variyali) from North Gujarat received Geographical Indication (GI) tags from the Geographical Indications Registry of India. The certificates were issued on 28 March 2026, and the registration was made in the name of the Unjha Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Unjha, under Class 30 for spices. A Geographical Indication is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation, or characteristics linked to that origin. In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, and the registry functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 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.

 

2. India to Host BRICS Labour Ministers’ Meeting: India will host the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Hyderabad on 15 and 16 July 2026 under its BRICS presidency. The meeting is linked to BRICS cooperation on labour markets, workforce skilling, social protection, and employment policies. BRICS is a grouping of major emerging economies that conducts ministerial meetings on sector-specific issues, including labour and employment. The labour ministers’ meeting is one of the formal mechanisms used by BRICS members to coordinate policy positions on employment and social security. The 2026 meeting in Hyderabad is expected to bring together representatives from member countries and international organisations. The agenda includes labour market formalisation, employability, skills development, and women’s participation in the workforce.

 

3. Ladakh to Form Hill Councils in Seven Districts: Ladakh administration decided on 13 July 2026 to constitute Autonomous Hill Development Councils for all seven districts of the Union Territory. The decision covers Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Changthang, Sham, Zanskar, and Drass, after the creation of five new districts in April 2026. Autonomous Hill Development Councils are district-level elected bodies in Ladakh that function under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act. Leh has had such a council since 1995, and Kargil has had one since 2003. Each council will have powers over land ownership and allotment, recruitment and promotions for district cadre posts, and levy of taxes and fees. The councils will also handle health, education, tourism, local infrastructure, and social welfare schemes, with each district maintaining its own revenue base and development plans.

 

4. UN Releases First Scientific Report on AI: The United Nations released its first scientific assessment of artificial intelligence in July 2026 under the title Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. The panel has 40 members and is co-chaired by Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa. Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that enables machines to perform tasks linked to learning, reasoning, pattern recognition, and language processing. The report covers seven themes, including AI science, healthcare, education, agriculture, economic effects, security, environmental impacts, human rights, democracy, cultural well-being, individual well-being, governance, and reliability. The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI was created to assess scientific evidence on AI and not to prescribe policy. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that governments need independent scientific evidence before making policy choices, and the report was prepared for use in the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

 

5. ICAI Inaugurates Global Orbit Summit 2026 in New Delhi: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) inaugurated the first edition of the ICAI Global Orbit Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 11 July 2026. The summit series is linked to Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which are also called captive centres or global in-house centres in corporate and professional usage. Global Capability Centres are offshore units set up by multinational companies to provide services such as finance, information technology, research and development, analytics, human resources, and customer support. India has more than 2,100 GCCs, which employ nearly 2.36 million professionals and generate close to USD 100 billion in annual revenue.

 

6. India Declares One-Day National Mourning for Former Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani: India declared one-day national mourning on 13 July 2026 for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the former Emir of Qatar and the Father Amir of the State of Qatar. The National Flag was flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is regularly displayed, and no official entertainment was held in India on the day of mourning. National mourning in India is declared by the Union Government on occasions of death of prominent national or foreign dignitaries. During such mourning, the National Flag is flown at half-mast under the Flag Code of India and official entertainment is suspended for the notified period. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani on 12 July 2026. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju was expected to travel to Qatar to convey India’s condolences on behalf of the Government of India.

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 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. Before reaching Boston, INS Sudarshini took part in the International Naval Review 250 and Sail4th 250 celebrations in New York, and its port call there ended on 8 July 2026. The ship also made port calls at Norfolk from 19 June to 23 June 2026 and at Baltimore on 26 June 2026.

 

2. What is Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB)?: The Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) is a proposed multilateral financial institution for military, security, and supply chain projects across allied nations. It is planned to have its headquarters in Canada and a European hub in Luxembourg, with a target to raise up to £100 billion, or about $134 billion. The DSRB is designed to provide low-cost, long-term financing for defence-related procurement and industrial capacity. It uses the creditworthiness of sovereign shareholders to issue triple-A-rated bonds, which is a high credit rating used in international finance for low-risk debt instruments. The founding and supporting nations include Albania, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Private financial backers include JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, ING, Commerzbank, RBC, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank, TD Bank, and National Bank of Canada.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. 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.

 

2. Karnataka Announces India’s First Government-Driven AI University: Karnataka announced a plan to establish India’s first government-driven Artificial Intelligence University on 14 July 2026. The announcement was made in Bengaluru during the inauguration of Google I/O Connect India 2026, and the proposed institution is linked with an AI Hub for startups, researchers, and companies. Artificial Intelligence is a branch of computer science that develops systems capable of tasks such as learning, pattern recognition, language processing, and decision support. An AI university can offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programmes in AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, Data Science, and related digital technologies. Karnataka has a large information technology base, and Bengaluru is one of India’s major technology centres. The state contributes nearly 40% of India’s software exports, and Bengaluru has more than 17,000 startups.

 

3. Two New Solitary Bee Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh: Two new solitary bee species, Elaphropoda triangulata and Habropoda adi, were identified in Arunachal Pradesh on 11 July 2026. The discovery was made by researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, during the Siang Expedition, and the findings were published in the European Journal of Taxonomy. Solitary bees are bees that do not form large colonies with a queen, workers, and drones. Many solitary bees are ground-nesting insects, and the two newly identified species belong to the Anthophorinae subfamily of ground-nesting bees. Wild bees are part of pollinator diversity in forest, grassland, and agricultural ecosystems. Pollination by bees supports the reproduction of many flowering plants and crop species.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bihar Launches Subsidised Heli-Tourism Service: Bihar launched the Mukhyamantri Bihar Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026 in Patna on 12 July 2026. The scheme is a joint initiative of the tourism department and the civil aviation department, and it provides subsidised helicopter and air tourism services to selected destinations in the state. The state government will provide a subsidy of up to ₹15,422 per ticket under the scheme. Online booking began on 13 July 2026, and operations are scheduled to start on 18 July 2026. The service will run initially on Saturdays and Sundays. In the first phase, the service connects Patna with Valmikinagar, Maa Mundeshwari Temple in Kaimur, and Rajgir. The fare for a 10-minute Patna joy ride is ₹2,100, while the Patna-Rajgir fare is ₹4,000, the Patna-Valmikinagar fare is ₹5,000, and the Patna-Kaimur fare is ₹6,000.

 

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. About 90% of the beneficiaries are first-generation entrepreneurs, and 44% are women entrepreneurs. More than 75,000 supported enterprises have entered the formal economy through registrations such as Udyam Aadhaar, Udyam Assist, FSSAI, and GST.

 

3. Centre Approves Rs 14,300 Crore Puducherry Budget: The Union Home Ministry approved Puducherry’s Rs 14,300 crore budget for the financial year 2026-2027 on 12 July 2026. The draft budget was examined with the Finance Ministry and received presidential approval before presentation in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The approved budget estimates revenue receipts of Rs 11,965.07 crore for 2026-2027. This includes Rs 7,890.41 crore from Puducherry’s own tax and non-tax revenues and Rs 4,074.66 crore as grants-in-aid from the Government of India. Central grants in the budget include Rs 3,512.86 crore under Normal Central Assistance, Rs 531.80 crore for Centrally Sponsored Schemes and flagship programmes, Rs 25 crore for the Central Road Fund, and Rs 5 crore for the Union Territory Disaster Response Fund. The Central Road Fund is used for road development and maintenance, while the Union Territory Disaster Response Fund is used for disaster response and relief.

 

Daily GK Update- 13th July, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ahmedabad sets world record by planting 3.61 lakh saplings in one hour: Ahmedabad set a Guinness World Record on 12 July 2026 by planting 3.61 lakh, or 361,000, saplings in one hour at Bhadaj in Gujarat. The plantation drive was organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and used the Miyawaki method across an area of about 76,000 square metres. The Miyawaki method is a dense plantation technique developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. It is used for creating native, multi-layered forests in small urban spaces and for increasing plant density in limited land areas. The earlier record was held by Assam, which planted 331,929 trees in one hour on 15 September 2023. The Ahmedabad initiative is linked to a larger afforestation plan for planting 1.25 crore trees in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency and 50 lakh trees in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation area.

 

2. MY Bharat Launches District-Level Competitions for Nasha Mukt Yuva: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched the next phase of the nationwide Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat campaign through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) on 13 July 2026. The campaign includes district-level competitions in five creative categories and follows a three-tier structure from district to state and then to a national finale. The campaign is organised in three stages: district-level competitions, state-level selection rounds, and a national finale. Registrations for the district-level competitions opened on 13 July 2026 on the MY Bharat portal, and the district competitions are scheduled from 24 to 27 July 2026.

 

3. Assam Launches Statewide Drug Disposal Campaign: Assam launched a statewide drug disposal campaign on 12 July 2026 at the 14th Assam Police Battalion ground in Daulasal, Nalbari district. The campaign involved the destruction of seized narcotics and psychotropic substances valued at ₹472.51 crore, along with the inauguration of Assam’s first narcotics incinerator at Daulasal. The disposal exercise used crushing and controlled burning as the main methods for destroying contraband. A road roller was used to crush the seized substances before incineration, and the process was scheduled to continue for 10 days. Assam Police registered more than 3,300 cases under the NDPS Act over the last five years. During the same period, drugs worth over ₹3,227 crore were seized in the state.

 

4. Central Vista Area to Be Renamed Kartavya Bhawan Area: The Central Vista redevelopment area in New Delhi is being referred to as the Kartavya Bhawan Complex or Kartavya Bhawan Area from 12 July 2026. The renamed precinct covers the government buildings, Kartavya Marg, and future structures within the Central Vista zone. Central Vista is the central administrative axis of India in New Delhi. It includes major government buildings and ceremonial spaces between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate. The redevelopment plan includes the Common Central Secretariat, which is designed to house several Union ministries in one administrative cluster.

 

5. Jaisalmer Railway Station Gets Heritage Makeover Under Amrit Bharat Scheme: Jaisalmer Railway Station in Rajasthan has been redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with the project completed in July 2026 at an estimated cost of around Rs 140 crore. The station combines local architectural elements such as yellow sandstone and traditional Rajasthani designs with modern passenger facilities. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is an Indian Railways station redevelopment programme for phased modernisation of railway stations across the country. The scheme includes station building upgrades, improved circulation areas, better passenger amenities, and integration of accessibility features. The redeveloped station uses yellow sandstone elements associated with Jaisalmer’s built heritage. It also includes traditional Rajasthani design motifs, modern lighting, clear signboards, and a digital passenger information system.

 

6. NABARD Launches Gramodyam for Rural Entrepreneurship: NABARD launched Gramodyam on 13 July 2026 on its 45th Foundation Day. Gramodyam is an entrepreneurship development programme for rural youth, and it is designed to support the creation of sustainable businesses in rural India. Gramodyam is a three-year pilot programme with a target of about 4,000 rural entrepreneurs. It uses a digital-first hybrid delivery model across all States and Union Territories of India. The programme is a collaborative initiative of NABARD and the National Skill Development Corporation under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The Institute for Industrial Development is responsible for execution of the programme. Participants in Gramodyam receive psychometric assessments, counselling, entrepreneurship development training, industry-specific skill programmes, mentoring, and assistance in setting up enterprises. These components are part of the programme’s structured support system for rural enterprise creation.

 

7. Government Schools Improve Internet Access Across India: Government schools in India increased internet connectivity from 46.2% in 2023-24 to 63.1% in 2025-26, while the gap with aided and private schools narrowed from 28 percentage points to 16 percentage points. The UDISE+ report for 2025-26 also recorded internet facilities in 67.4% of all schools in India, compared with 53.9% in 2023-24. Government schools are institutions run by the Union Government, State Governments, or local bodies, and they form a major part of the school education system in India. UDISE+ is the Unified District Information System for Education Plus, a national database used for school-level statistics on infrastructure, enrolment, and facilities. Goa recorded 100% internet coverage in schools, while Andhra Pradesh recorded 99.2% coverage. Internet connectivity in schools is a key infrastructure indicator in UDISE+ because it is linked with access to digital learning resources, online assessments, and administrative systems.

 

8. Ladakh Creates 17 New Tehsils: Ladakh approved 17 new tehsils on 12 July 2026, taking the total number of tehsils in the Union Territory from 15 to 32. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the reorganisation of tehsils and revenue villages in Ladakh. A tehsil is a sub-district revenue and administrative unit used in India for land records, revenue collection, and local administration. Tehsils function below the district level and are headed by a Tehsildar in the revenue administration system. Under the revised framework, Leh district will have 5 tehsils, Kargil 7, Changthang 4, Nubra 6, Zanskar 4, Sham 5, and Drass 1 tehsil. The restructuring was based on recommendations of a Union Territory-level committee and aligns every revenue village with a single tehsil and every tehsil with a single district.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ICAI Inaugurates Global Orbit Summit 2026 in New Delhi: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) inaugurated the first edition of the ICAI Global Orbit Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 11 July 2026. The summit series is linked to Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which are also called captive centres or global in-house centres in corporate and professional usage. Global Capability Centres are offshore units set up by multinational companies to provide services such as finance, information technology, research and development, analytics, human resources, and customer support. India has more than 2,100 GCCs, which employ nearly 2.36 million professionals and generate close to USD 100 billion in annual revenue.

 

2. EC Adds SIR Declaration for New Voter Registration: The Election Commission of India has added a declaration on the online Form 6 for new voter registration. The applicant must state whether their name, or the name of a parent or grandparent, appeared in the last Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Form 6 is the statutory application used for inclusion of a name in the electoral roll under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The online version on the ECINET portal now places the new declaration between Parts J and K. The declaration asks the applicant to choose one of three factual positions. The applicant may state that their own name was in the last Special Intensive Revision, that a parent’s or grandparent’s name was in it, or that none of these names was listed.

 

3. Rhino Population in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Rises to 53: The rhino population in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh has risen to 53 after the fourth rhino census conducted between 25 June and 27 June 2026. The census counted 17 adult males, 25 adult females, and 11 calves older than one year. The Indian rhinoceros, also called the greater one-horned rhinoceros, is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Its main Indian stronghold is Kaziranga National Park in Assam, and smaller populations exist in protected areas such as Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a protected area in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and forms part of the Dudhwa landscape near the India-Nepal border. The rhino reintroduction programme in Dudhwa began in 1984-85 with seven founder rhinos brought from Assam and Nepal.

 

4. BIS Introduces India’s First Mangrove Restoration Standards: BIS Introduces India’s First Mangrove Restoration Standard: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is preparing India’s first Indian Standard for the restoration of mangrove ecosystems. The draft standard, titled Restoration of Mangrove Ecosystem — Guidelines, was made public in March 2026 and received hundreds of inputs from stakeholders. BIS is India’s national standards body under the BIS Act, 2016. It develops Indian Standards through technical committees, draft publication, stakeholder consultation, and final notification. The committee EED 06: WG 02 was formed in 2023 to prepare a unified standard operating procedure for mangrove restoration. A stakeholder meeting was held on 11 June 2026 in Jharkhali, where local communities gave suggestions on plantation methods and restoration practices. BIS agreed to include the use of cloth or biodegradable bags instead of polythene packets for planting.

 

5. 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.

 

6. 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. Swaminathan is known for research in paediatric tuberculosis, clinical translational medicine training in India, vaccine development, and immunisation policy. She served as Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization and worked on global public health responses, including the COVID-19 pandemic. She is the Chairperson of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation since February 2023 and serves as Principal Advisor to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.

 

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.

 

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 International Physics Olympiad is an annual global competition for secondary school students in physics. It is one of the five International Science Olympiads and includes theoretical and experimental examinations. 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.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Drone-Based TB Sample Testing Cuts Diagnosis Cost in Telangana: Drone-based transport of sputum samples for tuberculosis testing has been studied in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana. The study was conducted by AIIMS Bibinagar and linked to the Indian Council of Medical Research’s i-DRONE programme. It measured patient expenditure, diagnostic turnaround time, and reporting delays in remote villages connected to district health facilities. Tuberculosis diagnosis in India often depends on sputum sample collection at Primary Health Centres and testing at higher-level laboratories. In the Telangana study, drones carried sputum samples from peripheral health facilities to testing centres under the National TB Elimination Programme. The system used a central command centre at AIIMS Bibinagar to coordinate movement across 11 Primary Health Centres, 60 subcentres, and four TB Units.

 

2. India Declares One-Day National Mourning for Former Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani: India declared one-day national mourning on 13 July 2026 for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the former Emir of Qatar and the Father Amir of the State of Qatar. The National Flag was flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is regularly displayed, and no official entertainment was held in India on the day of mourning. National mourning in India is declared by the Union Government on occasions of death of prominent national or foreign dignitaries. During such mourning, the National Flag is flown at half-mast under the Flag Code of India and official entertainment is suspended for the notified period. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013. He abdicated voluntarily in favour of his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in 2013.

3. 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. 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. 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.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. 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.

 

2. 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.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Sahitya Akademi Award-Winning Writer Poomani Dies: Renowned Tamil writer Poomani, also known as Pulithurai Manickavasagam, died on 12 July 2026 at the age of 79 due to age-related health issues. He was a novelist and short-story writer from Tamil Nadu, and his works focused on rural life, marginalised communities, and social realities in Tamil literature. Poomani received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his novel Agnyaadi. The Sahitya Akademi Award is one of India’s major literary honours and is given annually by the Sahitya Akademi, the national academy of letters. His novel Vekkai was adapted into the 2019 film Asuran, which starred Dhanush. The adaptation brought one of his well-known literary works into mainstream Indian cinema.