31st July, 2026

1. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Virtually Inaugurates India’s First Dedicated Department of Military Medicine in Lucknow
2. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Signs MoU with CSIR-NBRI for the Conservation of Rare, Endangered and Threatened Medicinal Plant Species
3. Ministry of Rural Development and PCI India Sign MoU to Strengthen Women-Led Enterprises through Public Procurement
4. IRDAI Approves Patanjali Ayurved and DS Group’s Acquisition of Magma General Insurance; Grants Licence to ProTec General Insurance
5. SBI Card and Google Pay Launch Co-Branded Credit Card with UPI-Linked RuPay Option
6. NCDEX Launches ‘Nidhi’ Mutual Fund Transaction Platform to Expand Rural Reach
7. Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Presents the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Awards 2025
8. Oscar-Winning Irish Musician Glen Hansard Passes Away at 56
9. Rajya Sabha Passes the Anti-Paper Leak Amendment Bill, 2026
10. Vastra Utsav 2026 Celebrates India’s Textile Heritage
11. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Expands Globally as 24 Countries Adopt India Stack, UPI and DigiLocker
12. Home Minister Amit Shah Pays Tribute to Hindi Litterateur Munshi Premchand on His Birth Anniversary
13. PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah Pay Tribute to Revolutionary Martyr Udham Singh on His 87th Martyrdom Day
14. Parliament Passes Bill Granting Vande Mataram the Same Statutory Protection as the National Anthem
15. IN-SPACe Approval Made Mandatory for Planned Space Object Re-Entry
16. Seventeen New MSMEs Join the Defence Sector to Support the Vision of a Developed India by 2047
17. India to Face Brazil in an International Football Friendly in Kolkata
18. Saudi Arabia and 13 Other Countries Announce a Maritime Defence Alliance to Protect Shipping in West Asia
19. Favara-UPI Cross-Border Payment Corridor Goes Live Between India and the Maldives
20. Parliamentary Panel Recommends the Appointment of a Polar Ambassador for India
21. Indian Railways Launches Online Personal Luggage Booking Service
22. India Achieves a Major Biodiversity Milestone as ZSI Completes the National Catalogue of Butterflies and Moths
23. Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026: Estonia Tops the Rankings; India Placed 176th
24. India Climbs from 82nd to 57th in Global Reform Rankings in the Competere Foundation Report

National News

Lok Sabha Passes Anti-Paper Leak Amendment Bill

• What: The Lok Sabha (LS) passed the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 to introduce stricter penalties and faster legal procedures to prevent examination paper leaks across India.
• Tell me more:
  • The Bill amends the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, addressing gaps identified after incidents such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak case.
  • It requires dedicated fast-track courts in every state, with investigations to be completed within two months and trials conducted quickly.
  • People convicted under the law can face up to 10 years of imprisonment and fines up to ₹50 lakh.
  • Organised paper leak syndicates can face fines up to ₹10 crore under the amended law.

India Expands Digital Public Infrastructure to 24 Countries

• What: India expanded its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) globally, with 24 countries signing cooperation agreements to adopt platforms such as DigiLocker and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for digital governance.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) informed the Lok Sabha that Kenya and Cuba signed implementation framework agreements to roll out DigiLocker.
  • India signed digital cooperation agreements with Colombia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Maldives, and Armenia to support capacity building and technical assistance.
  • UPI merchant payments expanded to nine countries, including Cambodia, while cross-border transfers became operational with Singapore, Nepal, and Greece.
  • The Central Government approved a Social Impact Fund to provide financial and technical support for pilot Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) projects in low- and middle-income countries.

Leaders Pay Tribute to Munshi Premchand

• Lok Sabha (LS) Speaker Om Birla and Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to Munshi Premchand, a pioneer of Indian literature, on his birth anniversary through social media posts.

Leaders Pay Tribute to Martyr Udham Singh

• What: PM Narendra Modi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to revolutionary martyr Udham Singh on his 87th martyrdom day through social media posts.
• Tell me more:
  • Udham Singh (26 December 1899 – 31 July 1940) was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter who assassinated Michael O’Dwyer in London in 1940 to avenge the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, for which he was executed.

Parliament Passes Prevention of Insults Bill 2026

• What: The Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, extending legal protections to the national song Vande Mataram and penalising any intentional insult or disruption to its singing.
• Tell me more:
  • Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai stated that the nation needs all six stanzas of the song for Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.
  • The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act was enacted in 1971 and amended several times afterwards.

IN-SPACe Issues Guidelines for Space Object Re-Entries

• What: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) issued new guidelines making its approval mandatory for the planned re-entry of space objects by Indian and foreign entities to ensure safety.
• Tell me more:
  • Applicants must submit technical evaluations, including failure scenarios, fragmentation patterns, de-orbit plans, and danger zone identification to IN-SPACe.
  • Planned re-entry operations must keep the expected casualty risk below 1 in 10,000.
  • Operators must obtain a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) at least 45 days before the scheduled re-entry.
  • Foreign entities planning re-entry within Indian territory must apply through an Indian-incorporated entity responsible for regulatory compliance.

Indian Railways Launches Online Excess Luggage Booking

• What: Indian Railways launched an online excess luggage booking facility on 31 July, allowing passengers with confirmed train tickets to pay for additional luggage while booking their journey online.
• Tell me more:
  • The new system removes the need for passengers to visit parcel offices separately before boarding their trains.

State News

Vastra Utsav 2026 Supports Traditional Weavers

• What: The Friends of DakshinaChitra (FoD) organised the two-day Vastra Utsav 2026 near Chennai to raise funds for the DakshinaChitra living museum while supporting traditional weavers and sustainable livelihoods.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative helps preserve traditional crafts by connecting craftspeople and women entrepreneurs directly with modern consumers.

International News

Saudi Arabia Forms Maritime Security Alliance

• What: Saudi Arabia announced a multinational maritime defence alliance to protect commercial shipping and key energy routes in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden from increasing attacks by Houthi rebels.
• Tell me more:
  • Representatives from 43 countries and the European Union (EU) attended an international meeting on the proposed alliance led by Saudi Arabia.
  • 14 countries supported the alliance to conduct joint naval patrols, share intelligence, and strengthen maritime surveillance along major trade routes.
  • The founding members of the coalition include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia.

Banking and Economy

IRDAI Approves Magma General Insurance Acquisition

• What: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) approved the acquisition of Magma General Insurance by Patanjali Ayurved and the Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group) for nearly ₹4,500 crore.
• Tell me more:
  • Patanjali Ayurved will acquire a 73.6% stake as the promoter, while DS Group will acquire a 24.5% stake as a co-investor from Sanoti Properties and other selling shareholders.
  • The acquisition will use Patanjali’s network to expand insurance services in semi-urban and rural markets.

Google Pay and SBI Card Launch Co-Branded Credit Card

• What: Google Pay and SBI Card launched a co-branded credit card called Google Pay Flex SBI Card to offer flexible bill repayments and digital account management within the Google Pay app.
• Tell me more:
  • The card is available on RuPay and Visa networks, allowing RuPay cardholders to link their credit card to Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for merchant payments.

NCDEX Launches Mutual Fund Platform NCDEX Nidhi

• What: The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) launched a mutual fund (MF) transaction platform called NCDEX Nidhi to become a multi-segment exchange and increase mutual fund adoption.
• Tell me more:
  • The platform has onboarded six asset management companies and plans to increase the number to 20 by the end of August.
  • NCDEX will train members from 20 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) as certified mutual fund distributors to expand access beyond the top 100 cities.
  • The platform offers UPI AutoPay for Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), complete transaction time-stamping, clear rejection details, and flexible deduction dates.
  • NCDEX plans to enter the equity cash segment by January, subject to approval from the SEBI, and has signed MoUs with the Colombo Stock Exchange of Sri Lanka and Chittagong Stock Exchange of Bangladesh for knowledge-sharing.

Maldives Links Favara System with India UPI

• What: The Maldives launched real-time cross-border fund transfers to India by linking its Favara payment system with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to improve digital financial connectivity.
• Tell me more:
  • The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) worked with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to launch the service.
  • Users can send money in Maldivian Rufiyaa, and the recipient receives it directly in Indian Rupees (₹) in UPI-enabled bank accounts.
  • Customers of Bank of Maldives Plc and Maldives Islamic Bank Plc can make person-to-person transfers through their mobile banking applications.

Reports and Indices

India Ranks 176th in Environmental Performance Index 2026

• What: The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026 assessed 177 countries across 47 indicators of environmental sustainability, with Estonia ranked first and India ranked 176th.
• Tell me more:
  • The EPI was developed by Yale University and Columbia University with support from the McCall MacBain Foundation.
  • The index measures performance across 12 categories, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, sustainable forestry, and greenhouse gas reduction.
  • Estonia ranked first with a score of 74.79, followed by Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Finland, and Netherlands.
  • India ranked second from the bottom, taking the 176th position out of 177 evaluated countries. India’s overall EPI score came out to 22.46, compared to a regional average of 31.81. Additionally, tree cover loss in key biodiversity areas recorded a score of -3.92.
    • In 2024, India ranked 176th out of 180 countries with a score of 27.6.
    • In 2022, India ranked 180th out of 180 countries.

India Climbs 25 Places in Global Market Reform Rankings

• What: India improved 25 places in global market rankings, rising from 82nd in 2010 to 57th in 2023, due to structural and pro-competitive reforms, according to a report by the Competere Foundation for Trade and Competition Policy.
• Tell me more:
  • The report was launched by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
    • Established in 2016 at IIFT, the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) provides legal expertise to support India’s trade policy, investment negotiations, and international dispute settlement.
  • It uses the Market Distortions Performance Index to assess property rights protection, domestic competition, and international competition.
  • Reforms such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and improved trade facilitation systems helped improve India’s ranking.
  • The report recommends reviewing sector-specific investment restrictions and strengthening cooperation with international trading partners to support long-term growth.

Defence News

India Opens First Department of Military Medicine

• What: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated India’s first Department of Military Medicine at the Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army).
• Tell me more:
  • The department will serve as the central hub of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for teaching, research, and specialised military medical practices.
  • It will focus on combat trauma, combat psychiatry, environmental medicine, military logistics, disaster medicine, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) response.

MSMEs Connect with Defence Sector Under SANKALP

• What: Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth announced that nearly 17,000 MSMEs are now connected with the defence sector during a joint interactive workshop themed SANKALP.
• Tell me more:
  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) jointly organized the indigenisation workshop.
  • SANKALP stands for self-reliance, atmanirbhar bharat, native development, and knowledge linked partnership.
  • Sanjay Seth launched a book titled ‘SANKALP 2026: Problem statements of Indian Air Force’ alongside Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.

Science and Technology

ZSI Releases First National Catalogue of Lepidoptera

• What: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) completed a 12-year project to publish India’s first comprehensive national catalogue of Lepidoptera, documenting 13,703 butterfly and moth species in 22 volumes to support biodiversity research and conservation planning.
• Tell me more:
  • Taxonomists Navneet Singh and Rahul Joshi led the project, with the final volume published in Zootaxa, documenting the remaining 1,689 species.
  • India is home to 8.25% of the world’s Lepidoptera species, including 3,705 genera, 240 subfamilies, 102 families, and 31 superfamilies.
  • The catalogue records 2,205 species of Geometroidea moths across 479 genera, representing 8.8% of the world’s species in this superfamily.

Awards

Organizations Receive Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Awards

• What: Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia conferred the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Awards 2025 to Amantya Technologies Private Limited and Finaara for their contributions to telecom technology.
• Tell me more:
  • Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications instituted these annual awards to encourage innovations and inspire the telecom skill ecosystem.
  • The awards recognize achievements in telecom skilling, services, manufacturing, and sectoral applications in fields like agriculture, commerce, health, and education.
  • Citizens and registered institutions submitted nominations across India through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Sports

India to Face Brazil in Historic Football Friendly

• What: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that India will play an international friendly football match against five-time International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup champions Brazil at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 3 October.
• Tell me more:
  • Brazil will be the highest-ranked men’s football team to play against India since the FIFA rankings began in 1992.
  • Brazil will end its international tour in Kolkata after playing friendly matches against Australia and in Brisbane.
  • Kolkata has previously hosted football legends Pelé in 1977 and Lionel Messi during his visits in 2011 and 2025.

Memorandum of Understanding

Ministry Signs MoU to Conserve Tribal Bioresources

• What: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow, to promote the research and conservation of tribal bioresources across India.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership aims to conserve the Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) medicinal plants, protect tribal knowledge, strengthen community participation, and promote sustainable use of India’s bioresources.
  • Research will require Prior Informed Consent (PIC) from Gram Sabhas under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, while MoTA and CSIR-NBRI will jointly own the project’s intellectual property.

MoRD Signs MoU to Support Rural Women Enterprises

• What: The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Project Concern International (PCI) India under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• Tell me more:
  • The three-year partnership will establish a National Resource Cell (NRC) for public procurement under DAY-NRLM.
  • The initiative will provide training on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) onboarding, tender participation, and quality standards compliance.
  • Technical support will begin in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, helping create 6 crore Lakhpati Didis and supporting the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
  • Indrajit Chaudhuri is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Country Director of Project Concern International (PCI) India.

Appointments

Panel Recommends Polar Ambassador for Arctic Affairs

• What: The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs recommended that India appoint a Polar Ambassador and seek full membership in the Arctic Council to strengthen its polar diplomacy.
• Tell me more:
  • India currently has observer status in the eight-member Arctic Council, along with 12 other non-member countries, without decision-making or direct research powers.
  • The committee recommended working with Arctic Council members to include Russia in scientific activities and suggested using Russia’s Chersky research station in Siberia.
  • It also proposed a quadrilateral agreement with Japan, South Korea, and Singapore to strengthen the Global South’s role in Arctic affairs.
  • The report recommended expanding India’s Arctic policy beyond scientific research to include geopolitics, strategic interests, and critical mineral extraction for active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Miscellaneous

Oscar-Winning Musician Glen Hansard Passes Away

• What: Oscar-winning Irish musician and actor Glen Hansard died at the age of 56 in a motorbike crash in Lucan, west of Dublin.
• Tell me more:
  • Hansard became famous for starring in the 1991 film The Commitments and leading the rock band The Frames.
  • He won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008 with Marketa Irglova for Falling Slowly from the film Once.

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