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.

 

 

 

Daily GK Update- 11th July, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 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.

 

2. NSE Launches Nifty500 Ahimsa Index: NSE Indices Limited, a subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange, launched the Nifty500 Ahimsa Index on 10 July 2026. The index tracks companies from the Nifty 500 universe that follow Ahimsa, or non-violence, in business practices and exclude firms involved in activities that harm animals. The Nifty500 Ahimsa Index has a base date of 1 April 2016 and a base value of 1000. It is a thematic index, which means it is designed around a specific investment theme rather than the broad market. The index uses free-float market capitalisation for stock weights. Free-float market capitalisation refers to the market value of shares available for public trading, excluding promoter and locked-in holdings.

 

3. Centre Clears ₹3,000-Crore Scheme to Save 15,000 Sacred Groves: The Union government approved a ₹3,000-crore scheme on 10 July 2026 to conserve and restore nearly 15,000 sacred groves across India. The five-year programme, named the Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana, will run from 2026-27 to 2030-31 and will use funds from the National CAMPA Fund. The scheme was approved during the 7th Governing Body meeting of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA) in Coimbatore. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the meeting. The approved plan also includes a landscape restoration programme for land degradation and biodiversity loss. Sacred groves are forest patches protected by local communities for religious, spiritual, and cultural reasons. They are known as Aastha Vans under the new scheme. Such groves are found in several parts of India and are linked to traditional conservation practices.

 

4. Odisha Transfers Rs 20,648 Crore Under Subhadra Yojana: Odisha has transferred more than Rs 20,648 crore to over one crore women beneficiaries under the Subhadra Yojana in four instalments as of 10 July 2026. The fifth instalment of Rs 5,000 per beneficiary is scheduled for Rakhi Purnima in August 2026. The annual assistance under the scheme is credited in two instalments of Rs 5,000 each. The first instalment is linked to Rakhi Purnima, and the second instalment is linked to International Women’s Day on 8 March. About 1.15 crore applications have been registered under the scheme so far. Around 1.01 crore women have been identified as eligible beneficiaries for the fifth instalment after verification.

5. Jayaprakash Narayan Public Library Inaugurated in Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Jayaprakash Narayan Public Library in the NDMC area of Delhi on 11 July 2026. The library is a multimedia and digital knowledge centre developed by the New Delhi Municipal Council and is named after Jayaprakash Narayan, a prominent Indian freedom fighter and political leader. The library has about 32,000 physical books and one crore e-books and digital resources. It has a seating capacity of 200 people and includes a reading hall, a children’s section, and facilities for researchers and students. Public libraries in India function as community institutions that provide access to books, newspapers, reference material, and digital resources. They are used by students, researchers, and general readers for study, reading, and information access.

 

6. Delhi Government Signs MoU for Rainwater Harvesting in 75 Schools: The Delhi Government signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on 10 July 2026 at the Delhi Secretariat for rainwater harvesting systems in 75 CM Shri Schools. The agreement involves the Directorate of Education, Indraprastha Gas Limited, and Ehsaas NGO under the national Catch the Rain campaign. Rainwater harvesting is the collection, storage, and filtration of rainwater for later use or groundwater recharge. The project includes technical audits, restoration of existing systems, installation of new rooftop rainwater harvesting units, and awareness programmes for students and teachers. The initiative is expected to enable groundwater recharge of about two lakh litres annually in each participating school. Across 75 schools, the estimated annual rainwater harvesting capacity is nearly 50 crore litres.

 

7. Indian Potash, Jain Irrigation Sign Drip Irrigation MoU: Indian Potash Limited and Jain Irrigation Systems Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 8 July 2026 at Indian Potash Limited’s corporate office in New Delhi. The agreement covers drip irrigation systems for sugarcane cultivation in Gujarat and includes survey, design, supply, installation, training, and field demonstrations. Drip irrigation is a micro irrigation method that delivers water directly to the root zone of plants through emitters, drippers, or micro-tubes. It is used in crops such as sugarcane, orchards, vegetables, and plantation crops in water-stressed and irrigated regions. Fertigation is the application of fertilisers through an irrigation system, usually drip or sprinkler networks. Micro Irrigation Systems include drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation, and they are designed to reduce water loss through evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India, New Zealand Set ₹35,000 Crore Trade Target : India and New Zealand elevated their ties to a strategic partnership on 11 July 2026. The two countries set a target to double annual bilateral trade in goods and services to ₹35,000 crore, or NZ$7 billion, by 2030. The talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon produced 18 outcomes, including 10 agreements. India and New Zealand established diplomatic relations after the independence period, and both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Bilateral relations cover trade, agriculture, education, skills, innovation, clean energy, and sport. A Strategic Partnership Roadmap to 2030 was adopted for joint action over the next four years. The roadmap covers cooperation in trade, agriculture, skills, innovation, clean energy, and sport.

 

2. Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict Inaugurated at WII-SACON: The Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict was inaugurated on 10 July 2026 at the Wildlife Institute of India–Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History campus in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The inauguration was attended by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, and the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh. The Centre of Excellence will work as a national hub for research, innovation, policy support, capacity building, and dissemination of best practices. Its mandate includes scientific and evidence-based management of human-wildlife conflict in India. The establishment of the Centre was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 7th Meeting of the National Board for Wildlife on 3 March 2025. The National Board for Wildlife is a statutory advisory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

 

3. India Notifies UK Vehicle Import Rules: India has notified the procedures for quota-based duty concessions on passenger cars and goods vehicles imported from the United Kingdom under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The rules and the agreement are scheduled to come into effect on 15 July 2026, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued the public notice on 9 July 2026. In the first year, India will allow a quota of 20,000 UK-built internal combustion engine (ICE) passenger cars at concessional duty rates. The duty rate for these vehicles will range from 30% to 50%, depending on engine size. The quota for conventional-engine passenger cars will rise to 37,000 units in the fifth year, when the customs duty will settle at 10%.

 

4. Aero India 2027 to Be Held in Bengaluru: Aero India 2027 will be the 16th edition of Asia’s largest airshow and will be held at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Aero India is a biennial exhibition organised under the Ministry of Defence framework, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as the nodal agency and Bharat Electronics Limited as a supporting organisation. Aero India is held once every two years and brings together aircraft manufacturers, defence firms, military delegations, and aerospace stakeholders. The 15th edition of Aero India was held from 10 February to 14 February 2025. The Government of India has set a target of defence manufacturing worth ₹3 lakh crore and defence exports worth ₹50,000 crore by 2029-30. Aero India is linked with India’s aerospace and defence industrial ecosystem, which includes public sector undertakings, private manufacturers, and foreign exhibitors.

 

5. World Bank Approves $890 Million for Rooftop Solar Programme: The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved an $890 million financing package for India’s national rooftop solar programme on 9 and 10 July 2026. The package supports PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, a residential rooftop solar scheme for households in rural and urban India. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is India’s flagship residential rooftop solar programme. The scheme targets rooftop solar installations for 10 million households across the country. It is linked to household-level solar power generation and grid-connected electricity supply. The 890 million package includes an 820 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a 60 million concessional loan from the Clean Technology Fund, and a 10 million grant from the Livable Planet Fund. The financing is designed to support residential solar deployment and related institutional capacity.

 

6. Scientists Decode Sperm Whale Communication: Scientists using artificial intelligence have identified structured communication patterns in sperm whales, including 156 distinct codas and repeated click sequences that function as a phonetic-like system. The research has been linked to Project CETI, a non-profit international initiative founded in 2020 with a base in Dominica. Sperm whales are toothed whales in the family Physeteridae and are known for producing codas, which are short sequences of clicks used in social communication. Researchers have recorded vocalisations from about 400 sperm whales in the Eastern Caribbean between 2005 and 2018, including data from at least 60 individual whales.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Army to Induct 450 Carl Gustaf M4 Rocket Launchers: The Indian Army issued a Request for Proposal in July 2026 for 450 Carl Gustaf Mark-IV 84mm lightweight rocket launchers. The Carl Gustaf M4 is a shoulder-fired, multi-role weapon system designed for infantry use, anti-armour roles, and other battlefield tasks. The Carl Gustaf is a recoilless rifle system developed by Saab of Sweden. The Indian Army has used earlier M2 and M3 variants since the 1970s, and the M4 is the latest version in the series. The M4 weighs under 7 kilograms, while the M2 weighs about 14 kilograms and the M3 weighs about 10 kilograms. The Carl Gustaf M4 will be manufactured in India at Saab’s facility in Reliance MET City, Jhajjar, Haryana. Saab received approval for 100% Foreign Direct Investment for this unit, and the facility is described as India’s first fully foreign-owned defence manufacturing unit. Construction of the plant began in March 2024, and production was planned to start in 2024.

 

2. Indian Navy to Induct Stealth Frigate Mahendragiri: INS Mahendragiri is an indigenous stealth frigate of the Indian Navy and is scheduled for commissioning on 11 July 2026 at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the commissioning ceremony. The warship was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai and designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. Project 17A is a follow-on programme to the Shivalik-class frigates and includes Nilgiri-class stealth frigates for the Indian Navy. INS Mahendragiri is listed as the sixth warship of the Project 17A series in the provided facts, while some references describe it as the seventh and final frigate under the programme. The class is associated with reduced radar cross-section, modern sensors, and improved combat systems.

SPORTS

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. NPPA Fixes Retail Prices for 39 Drug Formulations: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority fixed the retail prices of 39 new drug formulations on 8 July 2026 under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. The order covered formulations used in hypertension, diabetes, HIV, heart disease, eye infections, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, epilepsy, pain management, and vitamin deficiencies. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority is a regulatory body under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. It fixes and revises prices of scheduled medicines under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, and monitors compliance with price control provisions.

 

2. JAXA Launches and Lands Reusable Rocket: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) conducted the first test flight of its experimental reusable rocket, Reusable Vehicle eXperiment (RV-X), on 11 July 2026 at the Noshiro Testing Center in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture, Japan. The rocket lifted off, hovered, moved horizontally, and landed safely during a flight of less than one minute. Reusable rockets are launch vehicles designed to return to Earth and be used again after flight. The RV-X is 1.8 metres in diameter and 7.3 metres long, and it uses an engine built for enhanced durability. The vehicle also has four shock-absorption landing gear units for vertical landing tests. During the test, the RV-X reached an altitude of about 11 metres and moved horizontally for about 16 metres while remaining upright. The flight combined lift-off, hovering, lateral movement, and landing in a single test sequence. JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries co-developed the rocket for reusable launch demonstrations.

 

3. Health Ministry Tightens Rules for Alcohol-Based Drug Formulations: The Union Health Ministry amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, on 10 July 2026 to regulate medicinal products containing high levels of ethyl alcohol. The amendment removes the exemption under Schedule K for certain alcohol-based preparations and brings them under licensing and prescription control. The Drugs Rules, 1945, classify medicines into schedules that determine sale, prescription, and record-keeping requirements. Schedule H1 covers prescription medicines that can be dispensed only against a registered medical practitioner’s prescription, and pharmacies must maintain sale records for such drugs. Schedule K earlier contained exemptions for certain categories of drugs and medicinal preparations from some licensing requirements.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. NABARD Facilitates GI Registration for 28 Products: On 10 July 2026, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development facilitated Geographical Indication registration for 28 new products from across India. With these additions, the number of GI products supported by NABARD reached 176. A Geographical Indication is a sign used on goods 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 registration is administered by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.

 

2. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Crosses 93.95 Crore Health Accounts: The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is India’s national digital health initiative for creating interoperable health records and unique health identifiers. As of 10 July 2026, the mission has created more than 93.95 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers and linked over 105 crore digital health records. The Ayushman Bharat Health Account, or ABHA, is a unique digital health ID used to store and share health records through consent-based systems. The ABHA number is part of the National Digital Health Ecosystem and is designed to support patient-centric record management across healthcare providers.