Current Affairs

Odisha Forest Department’s wildlife wing has put on hold the Indian gaur (bison) translocation programme in Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary due to anthropogenic pressure, especially cattle presence. Chandaka lies on Bhubaneswar’s outskirts, at the northeastern limits of the Eastern Ghats, and was declared to preserve wild elephants and habitats. Kumarkhunti reservoir is its only summer water source; vegetation mixes evergreen and deciduous elements; fauna includes elephants, chital, sloth bear, pangolin, python and peafowl.

India enabled its first satellite-based landing system approach on a commercial jet using GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), an indigenous SBAS developed by ISRO and Airports Authority of India. It provides real-time GPS correction and integrity information and is the first SBAS certified for the equatorial region. Infrastructure: 15 INRES, 2 INMCC, 3 INLUS; space segment: GSAT-8/10/15. Coverage: Indian FIR and ~1500 km beyond; interoperable with WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS.

Giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica) is rapidly spreading in Tirunavaya Panchayat, Kerala, raising student health concerns. An invasive species in India, it is native to Eastern Africa; introduced to India in 1847 and reached Madras in early 1900s. First reported in Kerala in the 1950s at Elapully, Palakkad, with spread waves in the 1970s and 2005. It damages 500+ crops and carries pathogens, including rat lungworm (meningitis) and bacteria linked to septicemia/peritonitis; IUCN lists it among 100 worst invasive alien species (not Red Listed).

Rare Caspian cobra (Naja oxiana; family Elapidae), endemic to Central Asia, was spotted in the upper forest range of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. In India it is exceptionally rare, confined to far northwestern pockets including Jammu & Kashmir and parts of Himachal. It prefers arid/semi-arid rocky scrub. Venom is rich in neurotoxins. IUCN: Near Threatened; CITES Appendix II; threatened by habitat fragmentation and development.

On July 1, 2026, the Office of the Registrar General of India released the Civil Registration System (CRS) report 2024, giving national/state data on birth/death registration, sex ratio at birth (girls per 1,000 boys) and stillbirths. In 2024, birth registration was 99.1% and death registration 99.4%; registered births 254.7 lakh and deaths 89.4 lakh. SRB averaged 917; highest Arunachal Pradesh (1,050), lowest 865 (Nagaland, Lakshadweep). Stillbirths: 81,117 (69% urban). Registration is mandatory under the RBD Act, 1969; CRS functions under ORGI, MHA.

Borjuli wetland in Sonitpur district, Assam, has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, by the State Government in consultation with local bodies. Biodiversity Heritage Sites are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems with rich biodiversity (including high endemism and threatened species). Borjuli harbours wild rice Oryza rufipogon, progenitor of cultivated Oryza sativa, with disease/pest resistance and flood and salinity tolerance. The National Biodiversity Authority (MoEF) advises on selection and management.

Vikram-1, developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, is India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket. Its maiden test flight, Mission Aagaman, is scheduled for July 12–August 4, 2026, from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), carrying domestic and international payloads to a 450 km, 60° orbit. It aims to validate propulsion, stage separation, guidance/navigation for commercial operations; it is a multi-stage carbon-composite vehicle (350 kg to LEO), autonomous, using solid/liquid 3D-printed engines. Skyroot’s Vikram-S reached space from Indian soil in 2022.

The National Task Force (NTF) on Mental Health of Students and Prevention of Suicides in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) recently conducted field visits. Constituted under the Supreme Court of India in 2025, it is an expert committee to address student mental health crises, discrimination and suicides nationwide. It focuses on ST, OBC, disabled and marginalized students, consults on caste and gender issues, decriminalization of suicide, and aligns with Article 21 and NEP goals.

Commerce and Industry Minister witnessed launch of UPI services at Eurobank headquarters, Athens, Greece, under a Eurobank–NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) partnership enabling UPI-based, instant, secure, low-cost transfers for eligible customers. UPI, developed by NPCI and regulated by RBI, uses IMPS and AEPS. UPI is adopted in Singapore, UAE, France, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Greece. India–Greece Economic Engagement Business Council/Forum met at Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with sectoral roundtables on infrastructure, digital innovation and defence, and food processing and agriculture.

On 29 June 2026, India can observe the June full moon, traditionally called the “Strawberry Moon”, named by Native American Algonquian tribes for the wild-strawberry harvest season. It does not actually enlarge; the “Moon illusion” makes it seem bigger near the horizon. It is not pink; atmospheric scattering can give a golden/orange glow. It follows the year’s lowest sky path, with a low-arc micro-moon; visible across most of India under clear skies, best from open, low-light-pollution sites.

DRDO’s indigenously built Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system has received final operational clearance. India’s first indigenous AEW&C, developed with the Indian Air Force and certified by CEMILAC and DGAQA, is mounted on Embraer EMB-145 aircraft. It uses indigenous AESA radar and integrates SSR, ESM/ECM, secure LOS/BLOS data links, and self-protection, with air-to-air refuelling for extended missions.

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.