Current Affairs

On Banda Singh Bahadur’s martyrdom day, the Union Home Minister paid tribute to the Sikh warrior (1670–1716). Born Lachman Dev in Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, he became a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh and commander of the Khalsa army. Captured under Farrukhsiyar, he refused forced conversion and was martyred at Mehrauli, Delhi. He defeated Mughals, established Khalsa rule in Punjab, abolished zamindari, granted tillers land rights, and introduced Nanak Shahi coins.

On Passport Seva Divas (June 24), MEA clarified that an Indian passport is a travel document, not conclusive citizenship proof. Citizenship is determined under Constitution Articles 5–11 and the Citizenship Act, 1955; no law prescribes a single definitive document. Passports Act Section 20 allows travel documents to non-citizens in public interest. MHA (2020) said Aadhaar/passport/voter ID/PAN/birth certificate are not designated proofs. SC (Bihar SIR) noted higher evidentiary value; Sonowal (2005) placed burden on claimant. Citizenship Rules, 2003 enable NRC/identity cards; Assam NRC (2015–19) required legacy links before 24 March 1971; ~19 lakh excluded.

Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, London identified a new coffee hybrid, Coffea × libex (Libex), created by crossing Liberica and Excelsa, with Indian samples and field expertise from South India Coffee Company (SICC) and SICC Labs. Libex tolerates warmer temperatures and varied rainfall, with higher yield and easier processing. India, 7th largest producer, is overseen by the Coffee Board (Coffee Act, 1942; HQ Bengaluru; Commerce Ministry).

The National Traders’ Welfare Board (NTWB), an advisory body under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, constituted on 19 June 2019, held its 10th meeting in hybrid mode to strengthen digital governance and stakeholder participation. It has a chairperson and 20 non-official members; Joint Secretary (Internal Trade), DPIIT is convener. Focus areas included DigiDukaan (B2B; pilot Jaipur), ONDC integration, Jan Vishwas Amendment Act decriminalisation, state/UT traders’ welfare boards, and review of Rajasthan Trade Promotion Policy.

RBI amended its 2017 circular on “Limiting Liability of Customers in Unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions”, introducing a 1-year pilot reimbursement mechanism from January 1, 2027. For third-party breaches, loss reporting is extended to 5 calendar days. It covers fraudulent EBTs (incl. digital arrest, OTP theft) up to ₹50,000; pays 85% with lifetime cap ₹25,000 (flat ₹25,000 for ₹29,412–₹50,000). Negligence (ignoring fraud alerts, not updating contacts) is excluded. Funding: RBI ~75%, remaining shared by customer and beneficiary banks. Settlement: 45–60 days (60 for cross-border).

Prime Minister addressed the tri-commissioning ceremony in Kolkata of INS Agray, INS Dunagiri and INS Sanshodhak, highlighting indigenous naval capability. Built by GRSE, Kolkata, INS Sanshodhak is a Sandhayak-class (Survey Vessel-Large) hydrographic vessel (3,300–3,400 tonnes) with twin diesel engines, SONAR and AUV for seabed mapping and ocean data. INS Agray is an Arnala-class (Project 28 SW) 900-tonne ASW shallow-water craft with water-jet propulsion, sensors, torpedoes and depth charges. INS Dunagiri is a Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) 6,670-tonne stealth guided-missile frigate with CODOG, BrahMos, advanced radar, EW suite, helicopters and blue-water capability.

Nominations opened for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP), India’s highest civilian honour for children, started in 2019. Conferred annually by the President on Veer Bal Diwas (26 December), linked to Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (9) and Fateh Singh (7), martyred in 1704. Six categories: bravery, social service, environment, sports, art-culture, S&T. Eligible: resident Indian citizens aged 5-18 (as on 31 July); achievements within two years. Selection committee chaired by MWCD Secretary; final approval by Union Women and Child Development Minister; medal-certificate-citation; generally non-posthumous.

In 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs amended the FCRA Rules, 2011 under the FCRA, 2010 to tighten norms for NGOs (societies, trusts, Section 8 companies) receiving foreign funds. NGOs must pick activities from a Schedule and disclose States/UTs; religious work allowed excluding proselytisation. Foreign nationals as key functionaries are generally disallowed; “key functionary” expanded. Renewal requires ₹10 lakh spend in last two FYs; next instalment after 75% utilisation (field inquiry). New disclosures include social media, ultimate donor, activity reports; news/current affairs publishing barred; one-year transition provided.

Botanical Survey of India (BSI) scientist Dr. Lal Ji Singh discovered a new wild brinjal, Solanum pandeyi (wild orange eggplant), in evergreen forests of Middle Andaman, endemic along forest edges. It belongs to genus Solanum (Leptostemonum clade), family Solanaceae, with variable spines and stellate hairs; phylogenetic analysis separates it from S. lasiocarpum. Named after Prof. Arun Kumar Pandey (University of Delhi). Great Andamanese use seeds/roots for tooth infection; settler communities eat ripe fruits with jaggery, chilli, garlic, ginger and salt. It is a genetic resource for breeding high-yielding, disease-resistant brinjal.

Bangladesh joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as the 27th member. India launched IBCA in 2023, marking 50 years of Project Tiger, as a 95-country multi-agency coalition for seven big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma, to share conservation expertise. IBCA is governed by NTCA under MoEFCC; headquarters: New Delhi. Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 (Chapter VB) enforces CITES; CITES-listed fauna are incorporated in Schedule IV.

Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench placed before the Forest Bench a PIL on Berijam Lake, Kodaikanal (Dindigul, Tamil Nadu), seeking a scientific census to assess ecological viability for recommending notification as a Tiger Reserve. Berijam is a 59-acre artificial lake in the upper Palani Hills, formed in 1867 by a dam with sluice outlets, part of a micro-watershed project, near Fort Hamilton; formerly a British cantonment site, it supplies drinking water and conserves local flora-fauna (serpent eagles, rosefinch; bison, elephants, Nilgiri langur, deer).

The US operationalised SOLAR-1 (Space Weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness–1), earlier SWFO-L1, the first satellite exclusively for continuous space-weather monitoring. Managed by NOAA, it was launched on 24 September 2025 on Falcon 9 and placed at Sun–Earth L1 (~1.6 million km). With a compact coronagraph, it tracks CMEs and solar wind, sending CME imagery within 30 minutes (vs 8 hours), improving aurora forecasts and safeguarding grids, satellites, navigation and communications.

Masroor Rock-Cut Temples, Kangra Valley along the Beas River (Himachal Pradesh), are an 8th-century CE complex of 15 monolithic Nagara-style Hindu temples carved from a single sandstone rock, influenced by Gupta architecture. Called “Ellora of Himachal”/“Himalayan Pyramid”, they face northeast towards the Dhauladhar Range, follow a symmetrical square-grid mandala layout, are mainly dedicated to Shiva and Rama-Sita-Lakshmana, lack ancient textual references, were reported by Henry Shuttleworth (1913) and surveyed by Harold Hargreaves (1915), and show earthquake damage.

12th International Day of Yoga is observed worldwide on 21 June, proclaimed by UNGA on 11 December 2014 and celebrated since 2015, including events via Indian Missions abroad at 2,500+ locations in 190+ countries. Yoga (Indian, 2,500–5,000 years; first in Rigveda) integrates asana, pranayama and dhyana; evolved through Hinduism/Buddhism. UNESCO inscribed Yoga as ICH (2016). IDY supports WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030); 2026 theme: “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”. Guinness record: 4 lakh synchronized session. Celebrations span 100 heritage sites (Red Fort, Konark, Mahabalipuram). Digital initiatives: Yoga 365 and Yoga Samavesh (chair yoga for seniors).

IIT Madras released ANCHOR (Atlas of Neurochemical Characterization of the Human Brainstem with 3D Reconstruction), described as the world’s most detailed 3D human brainstem atlas at cellular resolution. The publicly accessible online portal maps brainstem development from prenatal stage to adulthood, integrating MRI, histology and chemo-architectural analysis. It reconstructs 200+ nuclei and fiber tracts; 8 immunostains over 500+ sections enable near-microscopic visualization and identification of cell populations affected in Alzheimer’s, dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Department of Atomic Energy inaugurated VDPP and commissioned a 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell at Heavy Water Board Facilities, Vadodara. VDPP produces high-purity deuterated solvents; deuterated compounds replace hydrogen with deuterium. The sodium cell is an industrial electrochemical system to produce nuclear-grade liquid sodium, a critical coolant for Fast Breeder Reactors (2nd stage of India’s 3-stage programme). HWBF, under DAE, produces heavy water (D₂O) used as moderator/coolant; Strategic Materials Hub supports purification/separation for nuclear needs.

IMO Secretary-General proposed evacuating ships and about 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf amid the West Asia war. IMO, a UN specialised agency (HQ: London), sets global standards for shipping safety, security and ship-based pollution prevention. Established as IMCO (1948), it became a UN agency in 1959 and was renamed IMO in 1982. Assembly (all members, biennial) elects a 40-member Council; membership: 176; India since 1959.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra began with the first batch crossing into China via Nathu La pass. Nathu La, a mountain pass in the Dongkya Range of the Himalayas in East Sikkim, connects Sikkim with the Tibet Autonomous Region at 4,310 m. The pilgrimage in western Himalayan ranges of Tibet is held annually (April–October) via Lipulekh (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La (Sikkim), covering Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar; it is sacred to Hindus, Jains and Buddhists.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired launch footage of China’s Dongfeng-17 (DF-17) hypersonic missile for the first time. DF-17 is a solid-fuelled medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile, officially unveiled in 2019; NATO codename CSS-22. About 11 m long and 15,000 kg, range 1,800–2,500 km, mobile launcher. It carries DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle, launches exo-atmospheric, then re-enters and manoeuvres at Mach 5–10, potentially staying below radar longer.

Uzbekistan joined the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB) in 2026 as its 10th member and first from Central Asia. NDB was decided at the 6th BRICS Summit, Fortaleza (Brazil), 2014; operational since 2015; HQ Shanghai. It mobilises finance for infrastructure and sustainable development in BRICS and other EMDCs. Authorised capital: USD 100 bn; initial subscribed: USD 50 bn (equal BRICS share). Governance: 1 vote/member, no veto; BRICS voting share >55%. Open to UN members; expanded since 2021. Members: BRICS, Bangladesh, UAE (2021), Egypt (2023), Algeria (2025), Uzbekistan (2026); Uruguay, Colombia, Ethiopia approved, pending accession.

The Western Ghats may receive stronger legal protection through notification of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in at least three states. ESAs, also called Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs), are biodiversity-rich or fragile regions needing special protection. Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Central Government can notify such areas, prohibiting, regulating or encouraging activities, subjecting projects to stricter scrutiny, and acting as “shock absorbers” and transition zones around protected areas.

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai, demonstrated Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus reticulatus) farming technology for the first time. The brachyuran crab belongs to family Portunidae; also called blue/flower/manna crab. Identified by paddle-like hind legs and 9 carapace spikes near eyes. Distributed in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, India, Sweden, Singapore; in India along both coasts, dominant in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar. It buries in sand/mud, tolerating NH4+/NH3, and feeds at high tide on bivalves, fish, and some macroalgae (PIB).

Central government launched ‘Nirbhay Chetna’ to sensitise 17.5 lakh male elected representatives, as a key intervention under ‘Nirbhay Raho’. Implemented under the Nirbhaya Fund, it has the Ministry of Panchayati Raj as nodal ministry and aims to strengthen gender-responsive governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions. A cadre of 28,500 Master Trainers will be developed at State, district and block levels. Nirbhay Raho also includes ‘Nirbhay Netri’ (capacity-building and legal awareness for elected women representatives) and ‘Nirbhay Drishti’ (CCTV at strategic rural locations).

The Supreme Court of India held that freedom to walk on demarcated, well-maintained footpaths is a fundamental right, linked to Articles 21, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b), 19(1)(c) and 14. It noted governments prioritise motorisation and neglect footpaths, though providing them is a basic municipal duty. It flagged the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 as ignoring walkers, and asked government to frame a statutory framework with responsibilities and remedies, suggesting a regulatory body to implement pedestrian rights.

A study shows ground-based space particle counters can track Earth’s weather and solar storms in real time using the GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy at PeV EnergieS) cosmic-ray observatory in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. Operated by TIFR and commissioned in 2000 (India–Japan team), it is the world’s largest tracking muon telescope, counting billions daily. Muon counts fall with warmer upper-atmosphere expansion and with stronger solar magnetic fields; FFT-based algorithms filter seasonal/solar-cycle effects.