07th July 2026

1. CCRAS Launches Three Research Initiatives to Strengthen Ayurveda Research and Digital Governance
2. DAC Clears Rs 52,000 Crore Modernisation Plan to Strengthen the Army, Navy and Air Force
3. Sharnbasva University Signs MoU with Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Boost Academic Collaboration
4. Sikkim Mountaineer Tshering Choden Scales Europe’s Highest Peak, Mount Elbrus
5. State Bank of India to Acquire NHB’s 10% Stake in RDCL
6. ISRO Conducts First Ground Test of SOLVE for Gaganyaan Crew Module Parachute Validation at Sriharikota, AP
7. Legendary Pandavani Singer and Padma Awardee Teejan Bai Passes Away
8. World Rural Development Day 2026 – July 6
9. Delhi Government to Launch Rs 8,300 Crore Air Pollution Project with World Bank
10. Delhi Government Launches Mission Kayakalp to Modernise Government Schools
11. Yogi Government Renames Jalalabad Town as Parashurampuri
12. Eastern India Leads GI Registrations; Madhya Pradesh Tops India in 2025–26
13. Two-Day BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting Begins in Kochi
14. PM Modi Holds Talks with Indonesian President; Conferred Indonesia’s Highest Civilian Honour
15. PM Modi’s Indonesia Visit to Open New Avenues for India–Indonesia Cooperation: Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty
16. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Reviews Multi-Modal Logistics Parks and Ropeway Projects
17. Indian Navy to Commission Indigenous Stealth Frigate INS Mahendragiri
18. Ministry of Tribal Affairs to Hold Two-Day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes
19. IMU Emerges as Global Maritime Education Leader as India Strengthens Maritime Workforce: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
20. Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Inaugurates New Train Service Between Uttarakhand and Maharashtra
21. Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Rajasthan and Gujarat

National News

Central Council Launches Three Ayurveda Research Initiatives

• What: The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) launched three new initiatives at its 5th Executive Committee meeting in New Delhi to strengthen scientific research in Ayurveda.
• Tell me more:
  • The three initiatives launched by the CCRAS were:
    • Research Methodology Textbook under the Ayurved Prabodhini Granthamala series to provide a standard guide on research methods for postgraduate and PhD students, strengthening the quality of Ayurveda research.
    • CCRAS PRAYATNA 2026–27 (Expression of Interest) to improve the scientific writing skills of young researchers through structured workshops.
    • CCRAS Digital Ecosystem Dashboard to bring CCRAS digital resources onto a single online platform, improving transparency, public access, and digital governance.
  • CCRAS Chairman Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha congratulated the Council for receiving 21 National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditations, strengthening its quality standards.

India Hosts BRICS Women Working Group Meeting

• What: India commenced a two-day BRICS Women’s Working Group (WWG) Meeting in Kochi, Kerala, to deliberate on key issues relating to women’s empowerment and women-led development under its BRICS Chairship 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • Women and Child Development Secretary Anil Malik said the discussions will focus on four priority areas: women’s leadership, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and climate action.
  • The meeting is being held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with a people-centric approach.
  • After the BRICS Women’s Working Group (WWG) meeting, the BRICS Ministerial Meeting will be held in Kochi on 8–9 July.

Nitin Gadkari Reviews National Highways Logistics Management Limited Projects

• What: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari chaired a review meeting of the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) in New Delhi to evaluate the ongoing development of transport infrastructure projects across India.
• Tell me more:
  • The review focused on the progress of Multi Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), ropeways, intermodal stations, and wayside amenities.
  • National Highways & Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
  • It develops transport logistics infrastructure and undertakes asset monetisation projects.
  • Alok Deepankar is the current Chairman of NHLML.

Union Minister Reviews Indian Maritime University Progress

• What: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a meeting to review the transformative growth, expanded infrastructure, and industry partnerships of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) over the past 12 years.
• Tell me more:
  • The IMU emerged among the top 10 maritime universities globally while aligning its curriculum with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) objectives.
  • The institution increased its total innovation patents from one to seven while establishing 26 industry partnerships and 34 academic collaborations globally since 2021.
  • The future growth plan involves modernising the Mumbai and Kolkata port campuses to achieve the targets set under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • The Indian Maritime University (IMU), headquartered in Chennai, was established through an Act of Parliament in 2008 to promote maritime education, training, research, and extension activities.
  • Vice Chancellor of IMU – Malini V Shankar

State News

Delhi Government Launches Massive Air Pollution Programme and Mission Kayakalp

• What: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a seven-year, ₹8,300-crore air pollution mitigation initiative titled ‘Clean Air, Healthy Delhi’ to curb emissions with financial support from the World Bank.
• Tell me more:
  • The World Bank will fund 65% of the total project cost to clean the air of the most polluted capital city worldwide.
  • The first component improves air quality management by establishing a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) and an integrated command and control centre-based monitoring platform.
  • The second component reduces emissions by phasing out older vehicles, promoting electric options, and improving public transportation systems.
  • The initiative is scheduled to be rolled out in September.
  • Separately, Delhi government announced the launch of Mission Kayakalp to transform Delhi government school infrastructure by modernizing classrooms, laboratories, and essential campus facilities.

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Approves Renaming of Jalalabad

• What: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet approved a proposal to rename Jalalabad town in Shahjahanpur district as Parashurampuri after the central government conveyed its no-objection clearance.
• Tell me more:
  • This decision follows previous renaming initiatives under the current administration, including renaming Allahabad to Prayagraj and Faizabad district to Ayodhya district

Madhya Pradesh Secures Record Geographical Indication Tags

• What: A total of 12 distinct fruit and vegetable varieties from Madhya Pradesh simultaneously secured the Geographical Indication (GI) certification, marking the first time a single Indian state received such a large volume of horticultural tags at once.
• Tell me more:
  • India registered 125 GI tags between April 2025 and March 2026, pushing the overall national count of registered products to 822.
  • Madhya Pradesh led the country with 26 registrations during this period, while West Bengal followed closely by securing 24 certifications.
  • Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav urged farmers to diversify into horticulture to support the state roadmap of expanding cultivation areas to 30 lakh hectares by 2030.
  • The 12 products are: Kumbhraj Coriander, Barman Ghat Brinjal, Gajariya Mango, Noorjahan Mango, Khargone Red Chilli, Khurasani Tamarind, Jabalpur Green Peas, Seoni Custard Apple, Malvi Potato, Malvi Garadu (Purple Yam), Narsinghpur Jaggery, and Jabalpur Water Chestnut (Singhara).

Ministry of Tribal Affairs Organises National Workshop in Bhubaneswar

• What: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs began a two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) on 7–8 July 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to review and transform these institutions into vibrant knowledge and policy support hubs.
• Tell me more:
  • During the inaugural session, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs signed an MoU with Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi to strengthen tribal research and education.
  • The Ministry also launched TribeX, India’s first digital learning platform to preserve and document tribal arts, culture, languages, and traditional knowledge.
  • Participants worked in four thematic groups, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies in tribal research.
  • The workshop will conclude with the Bhubaneswar Declaration, which will serve as a national roadmap for strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs).

Prime Minister Inaugurates Rajasthan Integrated Greenfield Refinery

• What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Rajasthan’s Balotra district to strengthen national energy security and enhance petrochemical self-sufficiency.
• Tell me more:
  • Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Government of Rajasthan developed the 9 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) complex as a joint venture.
  • The project required an investment of over ₹79,450 crore and possesses a petrochemical production capacity of 2.4 MMTPA.
  • He also inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport and launched the Modified UDAN Scheme. He also laid the foundation stone for Phase 2 of the Jaipur Metro Rail Project.

Banking and Economy

State Bank of India to Buy Stake in RDCL

• What: State Bank of India (SBI) will acquire a 10% stake in RMBS Development Company (RDCL) from National Housing Bank (NHB) to strengthen the specialised market intermediary for residential mortgage-backed securitisation.
• Tell me more:
  • After the deal, National Housing Bank (NHB)’s stake in RDCL will reduce from 39% to 29%.
  • RDCL was established in 2024 with a paid-up capital of ₹500 crore to develop India’s secondary mortgage market by securitising home loans, enabling lenders to raise funds and improve liquidity.
  • LIC owns a 10% stake in RDCL, while HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Bajaj Finance each hold 7%.

Defence News

Defence Acquisition Council Approves Major Procurement Proposals

• What: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various military procurement proposals worth approximately ₹52,000 crore to strengthen national armed forces.
• Tell me more:
  • The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, where the DAC gave in-principle approval for these defence purchases.
  • The Indian Army will procure the AKASH TARANG anti-drone system, portable anti-tank missiles, and kamikaze drones.
  • The Indian Navy will acquire a Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) and set up a land-based testing facility for electric propulsion systems.
  • The Indian Air Force will procure a Fixed-Wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (FW-HAPS) for long-duration surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Indian Navy to Commission Stealth Frigate Mahendragiri

• What: The Indian Navy will commission its sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, Mahendragiri (F38), at Visakhapatnam to enhance the national combat capability and safeguard maritime interests.
• Tell me more:
  • The Warship Design Bureau (WDB) designed the vessel internally, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) constructed it in Mumbai.
  • This deployment strengthens the role of India as the Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region while securing a stable Indo-Pacific

Science and Technology

Indian Space Research Organisation Tests New Launch Vehicle

• What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the first ground test of the solid motor for the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• Tell me more:
  • SOLVE has been developed to simulate different spaceflight conditions for the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight test missions.
  • ISRO modified the PSLV strap-on motor to develop the vehicle, which will test and validate the crew module’s parachute-based recovery system.

Awards

Sikkim Mountaineer Scales Europe’s Highest Peak, Mount Elbrus

• What: Sikkim mountaineer Tshering Choden successfully climbed 5,642-metre Mount Elbrus in Russia, moving one step closer to completing the Seven Summits challenge.
• Tell me more:
  • She had earlier climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, in August 2025.
  • Tshering Choden completed her Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) at the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco-Tourism (IHCAE) in South Sikkim.

Prime Minister Modi Receives Highest Indonesian Civilian Honour

• What: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto officially conferred the highest civilian honour, Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a historic bilateral visit to Jakarta.
• Tell me more:
  • Both leaders held extensive talks to strengthen the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
  • The two nations signed multiple agreements covering defence, agriculture, healthcare, critical minerals, and digital public infrastructure.
  • The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore will establish a branch campus in Jakarta.
  • The authorities will soon integrate the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India with the Indonesian payment system.
  • India’s Ambassador to Indonesia – Sandeep Chakravorty

Important Days

World Rural Development Day 2026 – July 6

• Theme: Financing the First Mile of Food Systems
• July 6 also marked the 5th Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation. Initiatives launched by government:

Memorandum of Understanding

Indian and Vietnamese Universities Partner for Academic Collaboration

• What: Sharnbasva University, Kalaburagi, Karnataka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to promote academic collaboration and joint research.
• Tell me more:
  • The five-year MoU includes student and faculty exchanges, joint research, national and international research funding, scientific publications, and shared ownership of intellectual property developed through the collaboration.

Miscellaneous

Renowned Folk Singer Teejan Bai Passes Away

• What: Legendary Pandavani folk singer Teejan Bai passed away at the age of 69. Pandavani is a traditional folk storytelling style that narrates stories from the Mahabharata through music and performance.
• Tell me more:
  • She was the only person from Chhattisgarh to receive the Padma Vibhushan (2019) and had earlier been honoured with the Padma Shri (1988) and Padma Bhushan (2003).

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