Current Affairs

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.

DRDO granted Final Operational Clearance to the indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system mounted on Brazilian Embraer EMB-145I aircraft. Developed by DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems with the IAF and Indian industry, it provides early warning on airborne/sea-surface targets and hostile emissions. IOC was accorded in 2015 and induction into IAF occurred in 2017. It integrates AESA radar, IFF, secure electronic/communication support and improved low-flying target detection; India becomes the 5th country with indigenous AEW&C capability. It proved effective in the 2019 Balakot strikes and Operation Sindoor (2025).

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.