28th July, 2026

1. Bihar to Establish a Permanent NSTI (Women) Campus and a Skill India International Centre in Patna
2. ICAR-CMFRI Launches the DeepDATA App for Deep-Sea Fish Documentation
3. Henley Passport Index 2026: India Ranks 81st; Singapore Retains Top Position
4. India Relaxes FDI Rules for Inventory-Based E-Commerce to Boost Exports of Indian-Made Goods
5. SBI Life Insurance Becomes Principal Partner of the Indian Contingent for the 2026 Para Sports Season
6. Prem K. Vora Receives the Rashtriya Ashok Samman (Bharat Samman)
7. Argentina’s Nicolás Otamendi Retires from International Football
8. World In Vitro Fertilization Day 2026 – July 25
9. International Day for Judicial Well-Being 2026 – July 25
10. International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent 2026 – July 25
11. BRICS Science Academies Forum Meeting 2026 Held at IIT Hyderabad
12. VIYONA Receives BBPS Approval to Offer Digital Bill Payment Services
13. Engineers India Limited and CSIR-IMMT Sign MoU for Critical Minerals Research
14. International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2026 – July 26
15. Himachal Pradesh Launches Mukhyamantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana
16. World Nature Conservation Day 2026 – July 28
17. World Hepatitis Day 2026 – July 28
18. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY): Maharashtra’s Cashless Health Insurance Scheme
19. Uttarakhand to Radio-Collar Elephants Ahead of Haridwar Kumbh 2027
20. Bhargavastra: India’s Indigenous Counter-Drone System
21. Four More International Sites Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List; Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
22. SpaceX’s Starship Completes Successful Test Flight and Deploys 20 Starlink Satellites
23. CSIR Transfers Four Indigenous Technologies to Industry and Launches a Smart Rural Water Monitoring System

National News

BRICS Science Academies Forum 2026 Concludes in Hyderabad

• What: The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) hosted the BRICS Science Academies Forum Meeting 2026 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad to discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) for sustainable development and Global South cooperation.
• Tell me more:
  • Science academies from 8 BRICS member nations and 5 partner countries participated and finalized a consensus communiqué.
  • Delegates identified five priority areas for AI: advanced materials, healthcare, climate change, agriculture, and disaster management.
  • The finalized Joint Statement will be presented at the BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting in August 2026.

Sarnath Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

• What: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, in its World Heritage List during the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.
• Tell me more:
  • With this inscription, India now has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Sarnath became the latest addition after the Maratha Military Landscapes.
  • During the same session, UNESCO also inscribed the World War II D-Day landing beaches (France), Mount Olympus (Greece), Asuka and Fujiwara (Japan), and the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape (South Sudan).
  • To be included, a site must have Outstanding Universal Value and satisfy at least one of the ten UNESCO selection criteria.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • Here’s the full list of India’s 45 Sites as of July 28, 2026:

State News

Bihar Launches New Skill Initiatives for Youth Empowerment

• What: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Government of Bihar announced the permanent campus of National Skill Training Institute for Women (NSTI (W)), Patna and signed an agreement for Skill India International Centre (SIIC) to boost employment.
• Tell me more:
  • The courses include emerging fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Programming Assistant, Drone Technician, Solar Technician, and Radiology Technician.

Himachal Pradesh Launches Mukhyamantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana

• What: The Himachal Pradesh government launched the Mukhyamantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana to provide annual financial assistance of ₹3,500 and social security to over 3,500 fishermen affected by the annual fishing ban.
• Tell me more:
  • The scheme benefits about 3,700 families connected to the Gobind Sagar, Pong Dam, Kol Dam, Chamera, and Ranjit Sagar reservoirs, with an annual cost of ₹1.20 crore.
  • District fisheries officials verify the applications and send money directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY)

• The Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) provides health insurance for poor and needy people, ensuring quality, transparent healthcare and effective delivery of treatment benefits across Maharashtra.
• At present, Maharashtra govt ordered an SIT probe into alleged MJPJAY irregularities after inspections found suspected claims and surgeries, mainly in Nashik.

Uttarakhand to Radio Collar Elephants for Kumbh Safety

• What: The Uttarakhand Forest Department plans to fit radio collars on herd-leading elephants to track their movements and reduce human-animal conflict during the 2027 Haridwar Kumbh Mela.
• Tell me more:
  • The Wildlife Institute of India (located in Dehradun) provides the radio collars and maps elephant routes to send real-time tracking alerts to response teams.

International News

SpaceX Starship Successfully Deploys Starlink Satellites

• What: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) successfully launched its 124-metre Starship rocket on its 13th test flight from Texas, travelling halfway around the world and deploying 20 advanced Starlink satellites into space.
• Tell me more:
  • The mission was the second test flight of the upgraded Version 3 (V3) Starship rocket, which deployed 20 Starlink satellites using laser links, while NASA monitored its development for future Artemis Moon missions.

Banking and Economy

Government Permits Foreign Direct Investment for E-Commerce Exports

• What: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry proposed allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in inventory-based e-commerce entities exclusively for exporting goods manufactured or produced within India to facilitate greater access of global markets by Indian sellers.
• Tell me more:
  • Earlier, India allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) only in Business-to-Business (B2B) e-commerce and marketplace models that did not own inventory, protecting small domestic retailers.
  • The new policy allows inventory ownership only for goods meant for export, while keeping existing protections for the domestic retail market unchanged.
  • Regulators may face challenges in ensuring companies keep separate inventories for domestic sales and exports.
  • The policy provides clearer rules for international e-commerce companies and gives global firms such as Amazon greater operational flexibility while supporting India’s export promotion goals

Viyona Fintech Receives Bharat Bill Payment System Approval

• What: Fintech infrastructure startup Viyona Fintech received approval from Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to function as a Customer Operating Unit (COU) for delivering bill payment services across India.
• Tell me more:
  • The approval enables the company to offer a wider range of secure digital payment services, strengthen banking infrastructure, and expand technology support for banks, businesses, and government organisations across India.

Reports and Indices

Henley Passport Index 2026 (20th Anniversary)

• The July 2026 Henley Passport Index is based on exclusive Timatic data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Rankings:

Defence News

India Showcases Bhargavastra Counter Swarm Drone System

• What: A new vehicle-mounted counter-swarm drone system called Bhargavastra was demonstrated to the Indian Army in Nagpur under the Make-II programme.
• Tell me more:
  • The system strengthens protection against drone threats by detecting, tracking, jamming, and destroying hostile drones quickly, improving security for military personnel, strategic assets, and high-altitude border areas.
  • It can detect large Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) up to 10 km away and small drones up to 6 km away.

Science and Technology

ICAR-CMFRI Launches DeepDATA Mobile Application

• What: The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), Kochi launched the DeepDATA mobile application to document deep-sea fish information and create a national digital repository.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences funded the application under the Deep Ocean Mission project.
  • Dr Eldho Varghese, In-charge of the IT Unit at ICAR-CMFRI is the lead developer of the app. Principal Scientist Dr Rekha J Nair leads the project under which the app was developed.
  • Users can upload photographs of marine species, which ICAR-CMFRI experts verify to ensure scientific accuracy.

CSIR Transfers Indigenous Technologies and Launches Water System

• What: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) transferred four indigenous technologies to industry and commercially launched an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled rural water service delivery, measurement, and monitoring system to promote indigenous innovations.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ministry of Science and Technology and CSIR Director General Dr N. Kalaiselvi emphasized commercialising indigenous, industry-oriented research to deliver societal, industrial, and national benefits.

Awards

Prem K. Vora Receives Rashtriya Ashok Samman

• What: Prem K. Vora, President (2025–2026) of the Electric Merchants Association (EMA), Mumbai, received the Rashtriya Ashok Samman (Bharat Samman) at the National Leadership Conclave in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The award honours his contributions to the electrical trade sector, ethical business practices, and support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
  • He also received the Global Youth Ambassador Award in 2025 and 2026, along with the Iconic Emerging Leader in the Electrical Industry 2025 award.

Important Days

World In Vitro Fertilization Day 2026 – July 25

International Day for Judicial Well-Being 2026 – July 25

• The 2026 International Judicial Conference, themed “Judicial Well-being and Integrity: From Individual Resilience to Institutional Responsibility,” focuses on judicial health, integrity, and anti-corruption and will be held in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands from 4–6 November 2026.
• The conference is hosted and co-organised by the Cayman Islands Judiciary, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Papua New Guinea’s Secretariat for Judicial Well-being, while Chief Justice Hon. Mme Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale (Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands) leads the event.

International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent 2026 – July 25

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2026 – July 26

World Nature Conservation Day 2026 – July 28

World Hepatitis Day 2026 – July 28

• 2026 Theme: Hepatitis: Let’s break it down

Sports

SBI Life Partners with Paralympic Committee of India

• What: SBI Life Insurance (SBI Life) strengthened its partnership with the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) by becoming the Principal Partner of the Indian Contingent for the 2026 para sports season.
• Tell me more:
  • SBI Life will serve as the Official Life Insurance Partner for the Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Para Games 2026 in Glasgow and the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.
  • The partnership builds upon the previous collaboration between both entities during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where Indian athletes won 29 medals.

Nicolas Otamendi Retires From Argentina International Football

• What: Argentine defender Nicolas Otamendi announced his retirement from international football following a 17-year career after his final appearance in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
• Tell me more:
  • The 38-year-old defender made 139 appearances for Argentina after his 2009 debut, winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 and two Copa América titles.
  • Otamendi played for Porto, Valencia, Manchester City, and Benfica, winning the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup before joining River Plate.

Memorandum of Understanding

EIL Signs MoU with CSIR-IMMT on Critical Minerals

• What: Public sector Engineers India Limited (EIL) signed an MoU with the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), Bhubaneswar.
• Why: To improve technologies for extracting and processing critical minerals through research, knowledge sharing, skill development, and advanced technology implementation.
• Tell me more:
  • EIL Director (Technical) Rajiv Agarwal and CSIR-IMMT Director Ramanuj Narayan signed the MoU in the capital.

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