National News
India Launches Electric Boat Pilot on Ganga River
India launched the Electric Boat Conversion Pilot Project on 23 July 2026 at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, to promote sustainable transport on the Ganga River. Implemented by the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) and GAIL (India) Limited, the initiative converts traditional fuel-powered passenger boats into electric boats, reducing air and noise pollution while supporting clean energy goals and eco-friendly tourism. The first phase was inaugurated by Varanasi Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari. Each converted boat features a 15 kW electric outboard motor, 20 kWh lithium battery, onboard EV charging, GPS tracking, a digital display, and remote monitoring. The boats can complete three round trips between Assi Ghat and Namo Ghat on one charge. Initially, 20 boats will be converted, and five boatmen were honoured for adopting the technology, highlighting strong community participation.
Weaves of India Festival Celebrates Handloom Heritage Nationwide
The Weaves of India Festival 2026 is being held from 24 July to 7 August 2026 at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), Janpath, New Delhi, organized by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) under the Ministry of Textiles. The festival showcases 116 traditional handloom weaves, promoting India’s rich textile heritage, supporting artisans, and encouraging the use of indigenous handloom products ahead of the 12th National Handloom Day on 7 August. Featured textiles include Banarasi Silk, Jamdani, Kanchipuram Silk, and Sambalpuri Ikat. The handloom sector generates rural employment, empowers women, preserves traditional craftsmanship, and contributes to sustainable textile production and exports. National Handloom Day, first observed in 2015, commemorates the Swadeshi Movement of 7 August 1905 and honors India’s weaving community.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi Strengthens Nutrition and Child Development
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that strengthens nutrition, early childhood care, and women’s health by integrating Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls. For FY 2025–26, the government allocated ₹21,960 crore to improve maternal and child nutrition, modernize Anganwadi centres, and enhance digital governance. A key initiative, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, has trained over 10 lakh Anganwadi workers in early childhood education, play-based learning, child development, and nutrition awareness. The mission uses ICT-based systems for real-time child growth tracking, beneficiary management, and service monitoring, enabling data-driven policymaking. NITI Aayog conducted a third-party evaluation in 2020 and a follow-up impact assessment in 2025 to improve programme effectiveness and outcomes.
Cabinet Approves Stricter Anti-Paper Leak Law Amendments
The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 to introduce stricter penalties for exam paper leaks and organized cheating. The proposed changes increase the minimum imprisonment for paper leak offences from 3 years to 5 years and raise the maximum fine to ₹10 crore. The government aims to strengthen examination integrity following concerns over irregularities in competitive exams, including alleged paper leaks. The amended law will continue to cover offences such as leaking question papers, impersonation, fake exam websites, unauthorized access to confidential data, and organized fraud. The proposal also focuses on faster justice through special investigation mechanisms and fast-track courts. The amendments are intended to protect students’ interests, restore public confidence, and ensure fair examination processes.
Right to Protest Debate Revives Constitutional Rights Discussion
The Right to Protest in India is a constitutional safeguard that allows citizens to peacefully express opinions and dissent through speech and peaceful assembly under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b). However, the right is subject to reasonable restrictions related to public order, national security, sovereignty, and the rights of others. Recent police action against the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) march toward Parliament renewed debate on protest regulations. Authorities may regulate demonstrations through permissions, designated protest areas, and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS. Supreme Court judgments, including Himat Lal K. Shah (1973), Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (2018), and Amit Sahni v. Commissioner of Police (2020), have upheld peaceful protests while emphasizing that demonstrations cannot cause indefinite disruption, block public spaces, or harm public convenience.
Indian Railways Introduces AI-Based Linen Quality Inspection System
Indian Railways launched an AI-based linen stain detection pilot project on 24 July 2026 to improve the quality and hygiene of bed linen supplied to passengers in AC coaches. The pilot is being implemented at mechanised laundries in the Pune, Jaipur, and Jodhpur Divisions. The system uses high-resolution cameras, computer vision, machine learning, image analysis, and automated stain detection to identify stains more accurately and consistently than manual inspections alone. It complements existing quality measures such as Whito-Meters, CCTV surveillance, mechanised laundries, and manual inspections. Standard AC bedrolls include two bedsheets, one pillow cover, and one hand towel. The initiative aims to enhance passenger satisfaction, strengthen quality control, support smart railway modernization, and enable nationwide adoption if successful.
Ravneet Singh Bittu Resigns From Union Council of Ministers
Ravneet Singh Bittu, Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, resigned from the Union Council of Ministers after his Rajya Sabha term ended in June 2026. The resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under Article 75(2) of the Constitution and became effective immediately. Bittu stated that he had already informed the Prime Minister about his decision and wanted to focus on Punjab politics ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. A prominent Punjab leader and grandson of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, Bittu was earlier associated with the Congress before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2024. He served as a Lok Sabha member from Ludhiana and Anandpur Sahib before becoming a Rajya Sabha member and Union Minister.
Government Directs GitHub to Remove Bitchat App Repositories
The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed GitHub to remove repositories related to Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based decentralized messaging application, on 23 July 2026. Developed by Jack Dorsey, Bitchat enables encrypted peer-to-peer communication through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks without internet, phone numbers, or centralized servers. The government cited concerns over national security, cybercrime, misinformation, and difficulties in law enforcement monitoring due to the app’s anonymous and decentralized design. The order invoked Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000 and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021. While Bitchat supports communication during network outages, earlier security concerns, including a reported MITM vulnerability in 2025, also raised questions about its safety.
Supreme Court Restricts Unauthorized Sharing of Court Proceedings Videos
The Supreme Court of India has directed that court proceeding videos cannot be uploaded, shared, saved, or circulated online without prior permission from the concerned authorities. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued the provisional order to prevent misuse of courtroom footage through misleading edits, sensational content, and AI-generated false narratives. Permission must be obtained from the Secretary General of the Supreme Court or the Registrar General of High Courts. The Court expressed concerns that such misuse could damage public trust and turn judicial proceedings into entertainment. The matter arose from a PIL filed by journalist Harshita Grover. The Court also sought the Bar Council of India’s views on lawyers using courtroom clips for promotion and warned that continued misuse could lead to restrictions on live streaming access.
State News
Rajasthan Unveils State Water Plan 2047 for Sustainability
The Rajasthan Government launched the Rajasthan State Water Plan 2047 on 24 July 2026 to strengthen water security, sustainable water management, irrigation, and groundwater conservation. The plan includes river-linking projects, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, digital monitoring, and community participation while integrating Jal Jeevan Mission, AMRUT 2.0, and Atal Bhujal Yojana. Key projects include the Ramjal Setu Link Project, supplying drinking water to 17 districts and irrigating 4.84 lakh hectares, the Yamuna Water Agreement, providing 1,917 cusecs through a 295-km pipeline to benefit 7.5 million people, and Devas III & IV projects for Udaipur. It also allocates ₹5,100 crore under AMRUT 2.0, expands rural tap connections, supports groundwater conservation, and uses the Kisan Saathi App for real-time irrigation management.
HCLTech to Build AI Data Centre in Odisha
HCL Technologies (HCLTech) has announced plans to establish its first AI-optimised data centre and a Global Technology Centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with an estimated investment of ₹15,000 crore. Developed with Sarvam AI and the Odisha Government, the project will be located in the Odisha Sovereign AI Park and is expected to become a major hub for secure, indigenous AI infrastructure. The facility, planned to be operational by 2028, will create around 5,000 direct jobs and support AI research, cloud services, model training, and enterprise applications. The partnership combines HCLTech’s technology expertise with Sarvam AI’s foundation models to promote sovereign AI solutions. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s digital sovereignty, reduce dependence on foreign AI infrastructure, and boost Odisha’s technology ecosystem.
International News
Europe Battles Massive Wildfires Amid Record Climate Crisis
Europe is experiencing a major wildfire emergency, with Spain declaring a national emergency for the first time due to rapidly spreading fires, while France requested assistance from the European Union (EU) through the Civil Protection Mechanism. In Spain, extreme heat, dry conditions, and strong winds caused multiple wildfires in regions west of Madrid and Ávila, forcing the evacuation of over 10,000 people. France faced severe fires near Cap Ferret and Biscarrosse, leading to the evacuation of around 63,000 people, destruction of nearly 50 homes, and burning of approximately 10,000 hectares of land. Authorities linked the crisis to climate-related factors such as rising temperatures, drought, and strong winds. The emergency highlights the growing need for international cooperation in managing climate disasters.
India Romania Sign Three Agreements to Deepen Bilateral Relations
India and Romania strengthened their bilateral partnership by signing three agreements during President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Bucharest on 23 July 2026. The agreements focus on science and technology cooperation, Indian studies, and sports collaboration. The science agreement promotes joint research, technology exchange, and innovation projects between India’s Department of Science and Technology and Romania’s research authority. An MoU established a Chair of Indian Studies at the University of Bucharest to support cultural and academic exchanges. The sports agreement encourages athlete exchanges, training programmes, and sports administration cooperation. Both nations also set a goal to double bilateral trade within three years across sectors like AI, renewable energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and digital infrastructure. They announced 2028 as the India-Romania Year of Innovation to mark 80 years of diplomatic relations.
India Invites Bangladesh Leader for BRICS Summit 2026
India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a special guest for the BRICS Summit 2026, scheduled from 17–19 September 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting India’s efforts to strengthen regional ties and cooperation with the Global South. Although Bangladesh is not a BRICS member, the invitation reflects its interest in joining the grouping and growing diplomatic engagement with India. During its BRICS 2026 Chairmanship, India is focusing on the theme “Creating Resilience, Innovation, Collaboration and Sustainability” and organizing ministerial meetings on areas such as health cooperation, disaster risk reduction, digital transformation, economic cooperation, climate resilience, and innovation. India aims to make BRICS a stronger platform for emerging economies by promoting sustainable growth, technology partnerships, and collective solutions to global challenges.
India Israel Advance Free Trade Agreement Negotiations Successfully
India and Israel concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) from 20 to 23 July 2026 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The talks, conducted under the Terms of Reference signed in November 2025, focused on creating a balanced and mutually beneficial trade framework. Discussions covered trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, customs procedures, trade facilitation, and economic cooperation. India and Israel aim to strengthen trade, investment, technology exchange, and innovation partnerships. Their merchandise trade reached USD 3.93 billion in FY 2025–26. The proposed FTA is expected to improve market access, increase investment, enhance supply chain resilience, and deepen cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, defence, and digital technologies.
Economy News
India’s Forex Reserves Rise Above $676 Billion Mark
India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $1.08 billion to $676.24 billion during the week ending 17 July 2026, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The rise was mainly driven by a growth in Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs), which increased by $4.55 billion to $551.06 billion. However, gold reserves declined by $3.48 billion to $101.75 billion during the period. The country’s reserves also included $18.67 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and a $4.76 billion IMF reserve position. Strong forex reserves help maintain rupee stability, support imports, meet external obligations, boost investor confidence, and protect against global financial shocks. The increase reflects India’s strong external financial position and resilience amid global economic uncertainties.
Banking News
NSE Launches India’s First Domestic Natural Gas Futures
India will launch its first domestic benchmark-based Natural Gas Futures Contract on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) from 27 July 2026, following approval by SEBI. Trading under the ticker NATGASIND, the cash-settled contract is linked to the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) Gujarat (Dahej) Hub benchmark. Priced in Indian Rupees per mmBtu with a trading unit of 250 mmBtu, it enables producers, consumers, traders, energy companies, and financial institutions to hedge against price volatility without physical gas delivery. The final settlement price is based on the monthly weighted average IGX Dahej Hub price, excluding government-mandated ceiling-price trades. The initiative enhances price discovery, transparency, risk management, and participation in India’s commodity derivatives market while supporting the growth of a gas-based economy and strengthening energy security.
Appointment News
Satya Pal Kumar Appointed New FIU-India Director
The Union Government appointed Satya Pal Kumar, a 2005-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the Income Tax cadre, as the new Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-India). The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) as part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle involving 20 senior officers across different ministries and departments. As Director, Kumar will lead FIU-India’s efforts in collecting, analyzing, and sharing financial intelligence related to money laundering, terror financing, financial fraud, and suspicious transactions. FIU-India, under the Ministry of Finance, serves as India’s national agency for monitoring financial activities and supporting enforcement agencies. The appointment strengthens India’s efforts to prevent financial crimes and improve its anti-money laundering framework.
Science & Technology News
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Flight 13 Test Mission
SpaceX successfully launched Starship Flight 13 from Starbase, Texas, on 24 July 2026, marking the 13th test mission and the second test of the Starship Version 3 design. The mission deployed 20 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites into suborbital space and successfully conducted an in-space Raptor engine relight test. Six satellites carried cameras to transmit live views of Starship during flight. The Starship upper stage completed re-entry and achieved a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean while continuing to transmit telemetry. The Super Heavy booster performed a directional flip and boostback burn but made a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico after fewer engines ignited during landing. The mission also tested hardware and software upgrades introduced after Flight 12.
Schemes News
Karnataka Promotes Agroforestry Through Krushi Aranya Incentive Scheme
The Karnataka Krushi Aranya Protsaha Yojane (KAPY) is an agroforestry initiative launched by the Karnataka Forest Department to encourage farmers to grow trees on agricultural land and increase the state’s green cover. The scheme provides financial incentives for maintaining healthy seedlings for three years, supporting sustainable farming, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and additional farmer income. Farmers receive ₹35 per seedling in the first year, ₹40 in the second year, and ₹50 in the third year after forest officials verify survival. Government nurseries provide subsidized seedlings, and farmers can earn from timber, fruits, fodder, seeds, and other forest products. Eligible Karnataka farmers owning agricultural land can apply through Forest Range Offices. The scheme promotes climate-resilient agriculture and environmental conservation.
Cabinet Approves BHAVYA Rasayan Scheme for Chemical Parks
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan (BHAVYA Rasayan) Scheme on 24 July 2026 to establish three advanced Chemical Parks across India. Announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, the scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹3,030 crore, including ₹3,000 crore for infrastructure development and ₹30 crore for administrative expenses. Each park can receive up to ₹1,000 crore central assistance, while states must contribute at least ₹500 crore. The parks will provide plug-and-play facilities such as effluent treatment plants, waste management systems, water supply, logistics, and solvent recovery facilities. The initiative aims to boost chemical manufacturing, attract investments, reduce costs, create jobs, strengthen exports, promote sustainability, and support Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.
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