23rd July, 2026

1. Boomerang Nebula: The Coldest Place in the Universe
2. Maharashtra to Establish India’s First AI-Powered Bird Sanctuary
3. France Passes Law Banning Social Media for Children Under 15 from 2027
4. National Broadcasting Day – July 23
5. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Launches Gems of India Challenge for Digital Creators
6. India to Commission Five Small Nuclear Power Reactors by 2033
7. Prakriti Café Inaugurated in New Delhi to Promote Healthy Dietary Practices
8. Union Agriculture Minister Issues Directives to Improve Production and Marketing of Totapuri Mangoes
9. President Droupadi Murmu Unveils Bust of Mahatma Gandhi in North Macedonia
10. India and North Macedonia Agree to Enhance Trade and Cooperation in Key Sectors
11. Defence Minister Virtually Flags In the All-Women Expedition Samudra Pradakshina
12. EAM S. Jaishankar Meets Foreign Ministers of the Philippines, Russia and Singapore in Manila
13. India Condemns Attack on Merchant Vessel MV Golden Leo
14. Quad Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Commitment to a Free, Open and Inclusive Indo-Pacific at Manila Meeting
15. India and Lesotho Strengthen Sporting Cooperation
16. Government Announces 162 Vande Bharat Train Services Are Operational Across India
17. India to Host BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh
18. India’s Renewable Energy Capacity Rises from 76 GW to 288 GW in the Last Decade
19. ICMR Facilitates Licensing of Three Indigenous Biomedical Technologies to Indian Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Manufacturers
20. Chhattisgarh Announces 10% Reservation for Agniveers in Police and Forest Departments
21. Goa Honours Mankurad Mango on National Mango Day
22. Uttar Pradesh Approves Guidelines for Implementation of the Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Yojana
23. Punjab Forms Cabinet Sub-Committee to Oversee Implementation of VB G RAM G
24. Indian Army Launches Operation Jal Rahat for Flood Rescue Operations in Assam
25. Commonwealth Games 2026: Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain Named India’s Flag and Baton Bearers; Commonwealth Games Mascots
26. P.V. Sindhu Becomes the First Indian to Win the Japan Open Women’s Singles Title
27. ISRO’s VSSC and CSIR-IICT Sign MoU to Develop Indigenous Eco-Friendly Blowing Agent Technology
28. ISSDA and GSSE Partner to Promote Stainless Steel for India’s Clean Energy Transition
29. IIPA and ICAI Sign MoU to Strengthen Municipal Financial Governance
30. Eight-Year-Old Iya Krish Becomes the Youngest Asian to Summit Mount Toubkal
31. Paninian India Launches India’s First Private-Sector Turbofan Engine Programme
32. Menuires International Chess Championship 2026: S. Rohith Krishna Wins Gold; Raja Rithvik Wins Silver
33. Pi Approximation Day 2026 – July 22
34. APEDB and UAE Sign MoU to Establish a Food Cluster for Horticulture Exports

National News

MIB Launches Gems of India Creator Challenge

• What: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) launched the pilot phase of the Gems of India Challenge on the MyWAVES section of the WAVES Over-The-Top (OTT) platform.
• Why: To discover, nurture, and promote grassroots digital creators across selected regions by providing a platform to showcase their districts’ culture, heritage, and unique local stories.
• Tell me more:
  • Participants can submit 1 to 3-minute videos showcasing unique district stories and cultural heritage through the MyWAVES section from August 1 to August 31.
  • The pilot phase covers Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, and Ladakh.
  • The initiative offers district-level awards of ₹50,000 for up to 20 creators, state-level awards of ₹2 lakh, and national awards of ₹5 lakh during the nationwide rollout.
  • MIB will expand the programme across all States and Union Territories following the success of the pilot phase.

India Plans Five Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

• What: Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh, announced that India plans to build at least five Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033 to increase nuclear power and reduce dependence on coal.
• Tell me more:
  • The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing three reactor designs, including 220-megawatt and 55-megawatt pressurised water reactors for electricity generation.
  • BARC is also developing a gas-cooled reactor with a capacity of less than 5 megawatts to produce heat for carbon-free hydrogen production in Visakhapatnam.
  • The government has committed over $2 billion to SMR development to reduce emissions in hard-to-abate industries and increase nuclear power capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047.
  • Private companies can build and operate nuclear projects, while the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) aims to achieve 54 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047.

Ayush Ministry Launches Prakriti Cafe at Ayush Bhawan

• What: Union Minister of State for Ministry of Ayush Shri Prataprao Jadhav inaugurated Prakriti Café at Ayush Bhawan, launching a first-of-its-kind workplace initiative to promote healthy dietary practices based on Ayush Ahaar principles.
• Tell me more:
  • Ministry of Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha highlighted that the initiative brings traditional Indian nutrition wisdom into everyday workplace routines.

President Murmu Unveils Gandhi Bust in North Macedonia

• What: President Droupadi Murmu and President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova jointly unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Skopje Museum during the first visit by an Indian Head of State to North Macedonia.
• Tell me more:
  • President Murmu also visited the Memorial of Mother Teresa in Skopje during the state visit.
  • Both leaders held delegation-level talks at Villa Vodno to strengthen cooperation in information technology, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, biotechnology, tourism, hospitality, and film-making.
  • India decided to double the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) training slots for North Macedonia, including courses in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • President Murmu welcomed North Macedonia’s plan to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Global Biofuels Alliance.

Union Sports Minister Meets Lesotho Counterpart in Glasgow

• What: Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya held a bilateral meeting with Lesotho Sports Minister Mputi Stephen Mputi in Glasgow to strengthen bilateral sports cooperation.
• Tell me more:
  • Both leaders discussed sharing Indian expertise in sports science, coach training, physical education, and sports infrastructure, while exploring the use of Lesotho’s high-altitude terrain for the specialised training of Indian athletes.
  • The Union Minister said there is great excitement towards the 100th edition of the Commonwealth Games, which India will host in 2030.
  • Lesotho is a landlocked, mountainous country in Southern Africa, entirely surrounded by South Africa. It is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,400 meters in elevation, with its lowest point being the highest in the world.

Union Railways Minister Updates Lok Sabha on Vande Bharat

• What: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that 162 indigenously designed Vande Bharat train services are currently operating across India.
• Tell me more:
  • The first Vande Bharat Sleeper service started regular operations between Howrah and Kamakhya in January this year.

India Reaches 288 GW Renewable Energy Installed Capacity

• What: Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik informed the Rajya Sabha that India reached 288.58 Giga Watt of installed renewable energy capacity by June 30, 2026.
• Tell me more:

• A total of 297.36 GW non-fossil fuel sources based electricity capacity has been installed in the country as on June 30, 2026. This includes 288.58 GW renewable energy capacity and 8.78 GW nuclear power capacity.
• The renewable energy sector attracted $45.72 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between financial year 2013-14 and financial year 2025-26.
• 12 public sector banks and domestic financial institutions deployed ₹12.32 lakh crore towards the renewable energy sector during the same period.

State News

Maharashtra Approves AI-Powered Bird Sanctuary

• What: The Maharashtra Government approved a ₹45-crore Eco-Nature Park at the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to support bird conservation and sustainable eco-tourism.
• Tell me more:
  • The park will include India’s first AI-powered bird detection and monitoring centre, using automated tracking systems to identify and monitor bird species in real time across a 1.5-kilometre stretch.
  • Located between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the sanctuary was declared a protected area in 2015–16 and is India’s first flamingo sanctuary.
  • The sanctuary is home to more than 200 bird species, including Greater Flamingos and Lesser Flamingos, along the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) migratory route.

India Hosts Sixteenth BRICS Health Ministers Meeting in Chandigarh

• What: India is convening the Sixteenth BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh from 22 to 24 July 2026 under its BRICS Chairship to deepen cooperation among 11 member countries on health security, digital health, pandemic preparedness, and equitable healthcare access.
• Tell me more:
  • The meeting focuses on the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” to advance global health priorities.
  • Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda will chair the Health Ministers’ Meeting.
  • Participating member nations represent nearly half of the world’s population and around 40% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
  • India structured the BRICS Health Track around nine priority areas, which are:
    1. BRICS TB Research Network
    2. Collaboration among BRICS Medical Products Regulatory Authorities
    3. BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for Prevention and Response to Mass Infectious Diseases
    4. Digital Health Architecture for Continuum of Care, including Access to Healthcare in Remote Areas
    5. BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle
    6. Promotion of Mental Wellness
    7. Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM)
    8. Fight against Diseases Driven by Social Determinants of Health (DD-SDH)
    9. BRICS Network of National Public Health Institutes
  • India will host a side event on digital health records and Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure on 24 July 2026.

Chhattisgarh Cabinet Approves 10% Quota for Agniveers

• What: The Chhattisgarh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, approved a 10% reservation for Agniveer soldiers in direct recruitment for Class-III (Group C) state civil services posts.
• Tell me more:
  • The Cabinet approved framing the “Chhattisgarh Civil Services Reservation Rules-2026 for Agniveer Soldiers” to govern this employment quota.

Uttar Pradesh Approves Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Scheme

• What: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the implementation guidelines for the Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Yojana to provide free scooties to meritorious female students.
• Tell me more:
  • Top 5% female graduates receive free scooties with insurance, registration, helmets, accessories and 4 litres of petrol; income limits are relaxed for disabled, martyrs’ and destitute daughters to improve higher education access.

Punjab Cabinet Approves Assembly Session and New Ration Cards

• What: The Punjab Cabinet approved the Monsoon Session of the Vidhan Sabha from 3–10 August and decided to form a Cabinet Sub-Committee to implement a rural employment scheme.
• Tell me more:
  • The Cabinet approved a Cabinet Sub-Committee to implement the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Scheme (VB G RAM G) in Punjab from 1 July 2026.
  • The Central and State Governments will share the scheme’s funding in a 60:40 ratio.

Indian Army Launches Operation Jal Rahat in Assam

• What: The Indian Army launched Operation Jal Rahat to support the Assam Government in large-scale flood rescue and relief operations across eastern Assam.
• Tell me more:
  • Continuous rainfall flooded several Upper Assam districts, causing multiple rivers to rise above the danger level.
  • The Indian Army, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), carried out rescue operations in various parts of the state.

Andhra Pradesh Signs Food Processing Pact with UAE

• What: The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (AP EDB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to boost investments, exports, and trade in the state’s food processing sector.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership aims to establish a UAE-backed food cluster in Andhra Pradesh and develop integrated value chains for mangoes, bananas, and cocoa.
  • UAE-based Floor Masters International will invest ₹100 crore to establish a food processing unit at Gangadhara Nellore in Chittoor district.
  • The company exports to nearly 25 countries and plans to use the Andhra Pradesh facility as an export hub.

International News

France Approves Social Media Ban for Under-15 Users

• What: France’s Parliament approved a law banning social media for people under 15 years from January 2027, becoming the first European country to introduce such a restriction.
• Tell me more:
  • France is the second country, after Australia, to ban social media for minors, as the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) also work to address youth mental health.

Philippines Hosts 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

• What: The Philippines began hosting the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings in Parañaque City.
• Tell me more:
  • ASEAN 2026 Chair: Philippines
  • ASEAN 2026 Theme: “Navigating Our Future, Together”
  • Meetings to be hosted under ASEAN 2026 Philippines Chairship:
    • 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM)
    • 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Meeting
    • 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
    • 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) Meeting
    • 16th Interface Meeting with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)
    • Celebration of the 50th Anniversary event of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), hosted by President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
    • Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (on the sidelines of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Manila)
• Outcome of 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM):
  • Foreign ministers held the Meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission to review the 2023–2027 Plan of Action and treaty protocol accessions.
  • The 59th AMM adopted the 59th AMM Joint Communiqué and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) Engagement Guidelines.
• India at 59th AMM:
  • EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar represented India at the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
  • He met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and expressed India’s concern over the safety of Indian seafarers after the attack on the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo.
  • MV Golden Leo was a commercial cargo ship sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau with a multinational crew (primarily Indian and Syrian nationals). The ship is owned by a Mumbai-based shipping firm, Ocean Grace Shipping Ltd.

Quad Foreign Ministers Meet in Manila, Philippines

• What: External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar attended the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the foreign ministers of Japan, Australia, and the United States (US) in Manila, Philippines.
• Tell me more:
  • The Quad Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific while supporting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) centrality, unity, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
  • 2026 is designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation.

Banking and Economy

ISSDA and GSSE Partner for India’s Clean Energy Transition

• What: The Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) and the Global Stainless Steel Expo (GSSE) partnered to promote stainless steel as a key material for India’s clean energy transition.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership promotes stainless steel for green hydrogen, renewable energy, mobility, infrastructure, industrial processing, ammonia, ethanol, chemical and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), while supporting a National Stainless Steel Policy.
  • India’s stainless steel market is projected to reach $15.8 billion by 2030, growing at a 9.1% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).
  • Domestic production uses 60–65% of its 7.5 million tonnes installed capacity, while imports meet 25–28% of domestic demand.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • Founded in India in 1989, the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Gurgaon, that promotes stainless steel applications, develops industry standards, and supports the growth of this sector.
  • The Global Stainless Steel Expo (GSSE), launched in India as an international stainless steel platform, will hold its fourth edition in Mumbai from 16–18 September 2027 to promote innovation, trade, and global collaboration.
    • The GSSE is organised by Virgo Communications & Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd., with the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) as the co-organiser.

Defence News

Rajnath Singh Flags in Historic All-Women Sailing Expedition

• What: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged-in ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the first tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, after nine officers returned to Mumbai aboard the indigenously-built Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni.
• Tell me more:
  • The crew completed a 314-day voyage covering nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans after being flagged-off on September 11, 2025.
  • The expedition fulfilled international circumnavigation criteria by crossing all meridians, crossing the Equator twice, crossing the International Date Line, and rounding the Three Great Capes.

Paninian Unveils Yantur Turbofan Engine Programme

• What: Deeptech startup Paninian India Private Limited unveiled the Yantur 4.5 kN Turbofan Engine Programme to build indigenous compact aerospace propulsion capabilities for next-generation autonomous defence platforms.
• Tell me more:
  • The technology enables India to build indigenous engines for cruise missiles, combat drones, and unmanned aircraft, reducing import dependence while strengthening defence, surveillance, and aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
  • The Yantur 4.5 kN turbofan engine aims to power Svayatt L1, a long-range autonomous cruise missile platform designed for the Ministry of Defence.
  • Yantur is described as India’s first privately developed turbofan engine in its class.
  • Founder of Paninian India – Raghu Adla

Science and Technology

ICMR Licenses Three Indigenous Medical Technologies

• What: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) licensed three indigenous biomedical technologies to Indian pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers under its Medical Innovations Patent Mitra initiative to support cancer and infectious disease treatment.
• Tell me more:
  • ICMR licensed SHetA2, an anti-Human Papillomavirus (HPV) therapeutic candidate for treating Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN), to Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
    • SHetA2 was jointly developed by the ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) and the Stephenson Cancer Center, USA, to selectively destroy precancerous cells.
  • ICMR also licensed two vaccine technologies developed at the ICMR-National Institute of Research in Bacterial Infections (ICMR-NIRBI), Kolkata, to Biological E Ltd. for vaccines against typhoid, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, and Shigella infections.
  • Department of Health Research (DHR) Secretary and ICMR Director General – Dr. Rajiv Bahl

Agriculture and Rural Development

Centre Issues Measures to Revive Totapuri Mango Sector

• What: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan issued directives to improve the cultivation, processing, and marketing of Totapuri mangoes in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
• Tell me more:
  • An Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) expert committee suggested measures to address price crashes caused by delayed processing, low mango pulp in beverages, and global market fluctuations.
  • The committee proposed making 22–25% natural mango pulp mandatory in beverages and limiting the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate to products meeting this requirement.
  • A Central Coordination and Price Stabilisation Committee will set indicative farm-gate procurement and pulp reference prices before every harvest.
  • Other measures include orchard rejuvenation through top-working grafting, cluster-level Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), fruit covers across 23,333 hectares, expanding exports through APEDA using sea routes, and producing mango butter using kernel seed technology.
    • Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Chairman – Abhishek Dev
  • On the other hand, Goa celebrated National Mango Day (July 22) to honour the Mankurad mango (known as the King of Goan Mangoes).

Awards

Eight-Year-Old Girl from Kerala Scaled North Africa Peak

• What: Eight-year-old Iya Krish from Thrissur became the youngest person from Asia to summit Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa standing at 4,167 metres in Morocco.
• Tell me more:
  • The child, currently living in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  • She previously set a record as the youngest person to scale Jebel Jais, a 1,934-metre-high peak in the UAE, at five years and 11 months old.
  • Her future mountaineering targets include Mount Elbrus in Russia, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and summiting Mount Everest before turning 12 years old to break the record of Jordan Romero, who climbed it at age 13.

Important Days

National Broadcasting Day – July 23

• National Broadcasting Day is observed on 23 July every year to mark the beginning of organised radio broadcasting, which started on 23 July 1927 when the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) launched one of India’s earliest radio services from Bombay (now Mumbai).
• The government took over broadcasting in 1930 under the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS), which was renamed All India Radio (AIR) in 1936.

National Mango Day – July 22

Pi Approximation Day 2026 – July 22

• The theme for International Mathematics Day 2026 (March 14) is “Mathematics and hope.”
• The most common fractional approximation used for pi is 22/7 (which equals roughly 3.1428). Therefore, the Pi Day is observed on July 22 and March 14.

Sports

Mirabai and Lovlina Named Indian Flag Bearers

• What: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) named Olympic medallists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain as India’s flag bearer and baton bearer, respectively, for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2026 opening ceremony in Glasgow.
• Tell me more:
  • Mirabai Chanu will carry the Indian tricolour, while Lovlina Borgohain will carry the ceremonial King’s Baton during the parade at The Hydro on July 23, 2026.
  • Each of the 74 Commonwealth nations receives a customized baton reflecting its unique culture and identity for the event.
  • Two-time CWG gold medallist Mirabai Chanu will compete in the 48kg weightlifting division. Former world champion Lovlina Borgohain will compete in the 75kg boxing category.
  • Over 120 Indian athletes will participate across eight able-bodied and five para sports during the event from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • Finnie, a unicorn inspired by Scotland’s national animal, is the official mascot for the Commonwealth Games 2026, with pink-purple hair and a white-and-orange horn. The CWG is returning to Glasgow after 12 years.
  • Finnie will cheer 3,000 athletes from 74 nations competing for 215 gold medals in 10 core sports from 23 July to 2 August and features the signature “all heart” pose.

PV Sindhu Becomes First Indian to Win Japan Open (Badminton) Super 750 Tournament

• What: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu won her first Japan Open title by defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, becoming the first Indian shuttler to win the tournament.
• Tell me more:
  • PV Sindhu defeated three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the final of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 750 tournament.
  • Christo Popov of France won the men’s singles in the tournament.

Rohith Krishna Wins Menuires Chess Championship Title

• What: Indian Grandmaster (GM) Rohith Krishna won the Menuires International Chess Championship in France, defeating compatriot GM Raja Rithvik on a tie-break.
• Tell me more:
  • GM Rohith Krishna won the gold medal with a tie-break score of 43, while GM Raja Rithvik secured silver with 41.5.
  • The tournament featured 86 players from seven nations, with France’s GM Omelja Artem finishing third with 6.5 points.

Memorandum of Understanding

CSIR-IICT and VSSC Partner for Indigenous Fluorochemicals

• What: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) signed an MoU to develop indigenous and environment-friendly blowing agent technology for strategic applications.
• Tell me more:
  • The technology will help to develop indigenous HydroFluoro-Olefins (HFOs), eco-friendly blowing agents that replace high-emission fluorochemicals in industrial and strategic applications.
  • HFOs are eco-friendly cooling and foam-making gases used in air conditioners, refrigerators, insulation foams, and aerospace systems, reducing ozone damage, greenhouse emissions, and dependence on imported fluorochemicals.

IIPA and ICAI Partner for Municipal Governance Reforms

• What: The Centre for Urban Studies (CUS) at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to strengthen municipal accounting and financial management.
• Tell me more:
  • The three-year partnership will support joint research, policy analysis, capacity building, and technical assistance for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
  • The collaboration will support the revision of the National Municipal Accounting Manual (NMAM) by combining field experience with modern accounting standards.

Miscellaneous

Boomerang Nebula Identified as Coldest Place in Universe

• What: Located 5,000 light-years away in the Centaurus constellation, the Boomerang Nebula is the coldest natural location in the universe, featuring a temperature of -272 degrees Celsius.
• Tell me more:
  • Astronomers Keith Taylor and Mike Scarrott discovered the Boomerang Nebula in 1980 using a ground-based telescope in Australia, naming it after its boomerang-like appearance. Later observations in 2003 revealed its actual bowtie/hourglass shape.

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