Current Affairs

Health Minister launched SUMAN Roadmap 2030 at the 16th Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) Conference. Strategic RMNCHA+N, life-cycle framework to strengthen maternal/newborn care; targets: MMR <70/1 lakh live births and reduced NMR/IMR by 2030. Focused in 130 districts across 13 high-focus States (including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, Odisha, Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand, WB). Measures: convergence with child/adolescent health, family planning, nutrition; high-risk care (antenatal, third-trimester, intrapartum, postnatal); Birth Waiting Homes, MCH Wings, obstetric HDUs/ICUs; ASHA bi-weekly visits; SUMAN Panchayats, Mothers’ Picnic; AI labour rooms, JANANI portal, call centre; referral incentives, NASG; linked to SSBSK (home care to 36 months); SDG-aligned.

Odisha’s proposal to resume tiger re-introduction in Satkosia Tiger Reserve has received in-principle approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The reserve spans Angul, Cuttack, Boudh and Nayagarh districts, comprising Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary. The Mahanadi flows through it; it overlaps the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve and lies at the Deccan Peninsula–Eastern Ghats junction, with moist deciduous/sal forests, key fauna and gharial/freshwater crocodile habitat.

Kerala will implement the Union government’s PM-RAHAT (Prime Minister–Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) scheme for immediate cashless care to road accident victims during the Golden Hour. Applicable on all roads in India, it covers up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for 7 days, with stabilization up to 24/48 hours. Implemented via MoRTH and NHA using eDAR and TMS 2.0, integrated with ERSS-112. Reimbursement through MVAF; SHA-approved claims paid within 10 days; district grievances under District Road Safety Committee chaired by District Collector/DM/DC.

Delhi EV Policy 2026–30 applies in NCT Delhi from 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2030, focusing on 2- and 3-wheelers. Implemented by Transport Dept; charging by Delhi Transco with power dept/discoms. Budget ₹7,000 crore; investment ₹15,000 crore; EV portal. EV-only registrations: 3-wheelers/N1 trucks from 1 Jan 2027; 2-wheelers from 1 Apr 2028. School buses: 10% electrification in 2 years. 32,000 chargers in 4 years; ~₹1,000 crore, PM e-Drive support.

Telangana is advancing urban sanitation under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 through a 100‑Day IEC campaign and a 99‑Day Action Plan, using door‑to‑door sensitisation, rallies, pledge drives and community mobilisation across information, education and communication pillars. It sensitised 27.09 lakh households; 6.5 lakh more in the Action Plan; engaged 22,482 pledges; planted 24,708 saplings with 10,704 SHG women (Amrut Mitra); held health camps for sanitation staff; cleaned drains/nallahs and overhead tanks; sensitised 15.02 lakh homes on seasonal diseases; disbursed ₹1,045.04 crore loans to 8,546 SHGs; and reported ₹77.12 lakh mela sales.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched the Unified Health Interface (UHI), an interoperable digital health network developed by the National Health Authority. Running on open protocols via the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission core gateway, UHI routes citizen requests to registered providers, reducing platform dependency. It uses ABHA, Healthcare Professionals Registry, Health Facility Registry and consent-based Health Information Exchange; enables blood (e-RaktKosh), PMJAY (HEM), Jan Aushadhi, ambulance and consultations, with next-phase labs, vaccination and pharmacy discovery/booking.

At the 16th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, the Health Minister unveiled initiatives for maternal-child health: revised Anaemia Mukt Bharat (MoHFW–NHM, 2018) with saturation screening, digital tracking, case management, diet/behaviour change; Operational Guidelines on National Ambulance Services, 2026; SUMAN Roadmap 2030 (SDG-linked); Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya (0–3 years). Outcomes: MMR 130 (2014) to 87; under-five mortality -79% since 1990; TFR 2.0; life expectancy 70.3; Mission Indradhanush 5.46 crore; HPV 50 lakh (since Feb 2026); TB incidence -21%; neonatal tetanus eliminated, polio-free sustained.

West Bengal Legislative Assembly passed two laws: West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026 (preventive detention up to 1 year; DM/Police Commissioner order for 15 days, extendable with State approval; grounds within 5 days, with limited disclosure). Detention beyond 3 months needs Article 22 Advisory Board review within 3 weeks (HC judge-led; release if unjustified; lawyers generally barred). Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026 mandates compensation for convicted property damage; externment up to 1 year.

Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) initiated an anti-dumping probe on imports of Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) steel, a transformer-core input. CRGO has grain alignment enabling low core loss and high magnetic permeability; thickness 0.23–0.35 mm (modern 0.18 mm). India consumes 4–4.5 lakh tonnes annually but produces 0.4–0.5 lakh; ~90% is imported from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. Anti-dumping duties (tariffs against below-fair-value imports) may raise transformer costs, delay grid expansion/renewable integration, and not materially cut import dependence.

RBI issued draft rules to allow NBFCs, AIFIs and HFCs to participate in the term money market (unsecured borrowing/lending >14 days to 1 year). NBFCs/HFCs (except base layer) and AIFIs can borrow and lend; companies may only lend; payments banks may borrow. Deals outside NDS-CALL must be reported within 15 minutes; non-members get 6 months. Trading permitted OTC via NDS-CALL (RBI, Clearcorp) and RBI-approved platforms; NBFC/HFC borrowing cap: 200% net owned funds; standalone PDs: 225% call/notice, 400% term+ICD.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) opened floodgates of Himayat Sagar reservoir due to higher rainfall inflows. Himayat Sagar is an artificial lake 20 km from Hyderabad, Telangana, built on the Esi River (tributary of Musi) for drinking water and flood moderation. Capacity ~3.0 TMC; area ~1,700 acres. Built under engineer Khaja Mohinuddin, completed 1927, named after Himayat Ali Khan; lies parallel to Osman Sagar, supplying Hyderabad–Secunderabad.

Vice-President paid tributes in Bengaluru on Nadaprabhu Sri Kempegowda’s 517th birth anniversary. A 16th-century chieftain under Vijayanagara (1510–1569), he founded Bengaluru in 1537; with Emperor Achyuta Devaraya’s permission built Bengaluru Fort, shifted capital from Yelahanka to Bengaluru Pete, and erected a mud fort with four watchtowers. He created lakes/tanks/temples, promoted irrigation, revenue and administrative reforms, ended Morasu Vokkaligas’ Bandi Devaru finger-amputation custom, encouraged Kannada arts, inclusive development; commemorated via a 108-ft “Statue of Prosperity” at Kempegowda International Airport and the Kempe Gowda Award.

Union Cooperation Minister launched Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative ride-hailing platform, in 14 cities of Gujarat (2025). Developed by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd; supported by Ministry of Cooperation and NeGD; registered under Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Promoted by NCDC, AMUL/GCMMF, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, NDDB, NCEL, NABARD. “Sarathi Hi Malik”: drivers as shareholders, zero-commission; 2W/auto/4W; 7% airport booth charge; insurance/retirement, safety features; Bike Didi (150+ women); rollout to all states/cities by 2029; target 500+ cities in 2 years, incl. Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata.

Union Ministry of Rural Development launched the Rural Internal Audit Portal at the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan, ahead of implementation of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin). Conceived by the Chief Controller of Accounts, MoRD, and developed with NIC, it is a generic open-source, AI-enabled unified platform for end-to-end risk-based and compliance audits, covering audit unit identification to action taken reports, improving transparency and reducing fake muster rolls and fund misuse.

Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Communications) notified three rulebooks under the Telecommunications Act, 2023: Authorisation for Principal, Captive and Miscellaneous Telecommunication Services Rules, 2026, shifting regime from licensing to authorisation and dismantling the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. Operators/ISPs may migrate or retain licences till expiry. Captive networks (CMRTS, CNPNs, VSAT, General) must be isolated from PSTN/public internet with data stored in India; GMPCS references removed.

Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) is the world’s largest international maritime exercise, hosted biennially by the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet in and around the Hawaiian Islands; it began in 1971. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th edition (June 24–July 31, 2026) with theme “Partners: Integrated and Prepared”, involving 31 nations, ~40 surface ships, 5 submarines, 140 aircraft and >25,000 personnel. The Indian Navy has participated since 2014. Activities include ASW, air defence, missile proficiency, mine clearance, amphibious assaults, disaster response and gunnery.

Google DeepMind, in its blog “Securing the future of AI agents,” released an AI control roadmap, arguing traditional alignment alone cannot manage highly autonomous AI agents (software that plans, reasons and acts across tools with minimal supervision). Deployed in software, cybersecurity, science and business, they may add $2.9 trillion in US value by 2030. It proposes defence-in-depth, treating agents as insider threats, covering loss of control, sabotage and direct harm, anchored in graduated permissions and continuous monitoring, amid risks of hidden reasoning and tiered responses (delayed review vs real-time intervention).

Ministry of Rural Development is organising Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan (RGVS) 2026, showcasing SARAS Aajeevika Gallery and legally secured trademarks SARAS, SARAS Aajeevika and Aajeevika. The Gallery is a permanent retail storefront and exhibition centre for SHG-based rural women entrepreneurs’ products. Under DAY-NRLM, SARAS (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society) provides marketing, while SARAS Aajeevika digitises markets via eSARAS e-commerce/app; SARAS Shakti Collection offers curated gifts.

A herpetological study confirms the first Indian record of Sistan sand boa (Eryx sistanensis), documenting three live individuals from the northern Thar Desert, Rajasthan, adding a fourth sand boa to India’s native reptile database (with E. johnii, E. conicus, E. whitakeri). A small, non-venomous burrower from farmlands/scrublands near habitations, earlier known from Iran and Pakistan; IUCN: NE; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule II. Threats include illegal trade, misguided rescues, and pet markets.

Recordent launched the MFI Credit Registry, a shared credit-information platform for Section 8 MFIs. It enables sharing borrower loan/repayment data before new lending and integrates credit bureau inputs to generate consolidated reports, reducing defaults and over-indebtedness. Developed with Sa-Dhan, the RBI-appointed microfinance self-regulatory body, it covers 10 MFIs. Section 8 MFIs manage ~₹4,000 crore assets; India’s microfinance portfolio is ₹3.2 lakh crore over 10.5 crore loans (Equifax, Feb 2026).

The Union Health Ministry proposed draft amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945 to simplify permission for importing drugs for examination, testing or analysis. A physical licence would be replaced by an online prior intimation form; the instant acknowledgement would be valid legal clearance. Exclusions include sex hormones, cytotoxic and beta-lactam drugs, live biologics, and narcotic/psychotropic substances. Rule 31’s >60% residual shelf-life norm would shift to 12 months, while biologicals and radiopharmaceuticals retain the 60% rule. No dilution of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 standards.

Department of Atomic Energy inaugurated the Nuclear Process Heat Hydrogen Facility as a technology demonstrator for producing hydrogen using nuclear energy. It employs an indigenously developed copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) thermochemical cycle by BARC, using process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at IGCAR, Kalpakkam. Cu-Cl splits water into hydrogen and oxygen at lower temperatures with relatively high efficiency. IGCAR (est. 1971) is under DAE; FBTR supports fuels/materials/sodium R&D for the 500 MWe PFBR, flagship of stage two of India’s three-stage nuclear programme.

Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2026 ranks India 4th (down one place) with 61 unicorns. Globally, the index counts a record 1,603 unicorns valued at $8 trillion, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the primary growth driver; AI unicorns account for 36% of total unicorn value. India’s most valuable unicorns are Zerodha, Zepto and Razorpay; Bengaluru hosts 25, Mumbai 13. Indians co-found 156 unicorns abroad.

Centre clarified E20 under MoPNG’s Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (2003); nationwide rollout from 2023. Ethanol under National Policy on Biofuels uses sugarcane juice, B-heavy molasses, damaged grains (broken rice) and maize. Hygroscopicity managed via safeguards against water ingress. No basis for ant attraction; denaturants repel insects; E20 doesn’t invalidate insurance. Saved ~₹1.4 lakh crore forex; boosts rural incomes; supports NDCs; Brazil standard E27.