1. India–New Zealand Ties Elevated to Strategic Partnership
Why in News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a State Visit to New Zealand on 11 July 2026, meeting NZ PM Christopher Luxon in Auckland — the first visit by an Indian PM to New Zealand in 40 years since Rajiv Gandhi's 1986 trip. This was the final leg of a three-nation Indo-Pacific tour covering Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Key Points
Both nations elevated bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership — India's first with any Pacific nation.
Released the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030, yielding 18 major outcomes.
Implementation framework finalised for the India-NZ FTA (signed April 2026 in a record 13 months): 95% of NZ's tariffs on exports to India to be reduced/eliminated, with 57% tariff-free from day one.
New agreements: Maritime Cooperation Arrangement (naval exercises, cybersecurity), Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement (Navy-NZDF), and an Annual Maritime Security Dialogue.
Bilateral trade target set at NZD 7 billion by 2030; NZ investment target of USD 20 billion into India over 15 years.
Launch of "100 Years of Unity through Sport" programme; cooperation in disaster management, tourism, animal husbandry, and education.
Static Knowledge
New Zealand capital: Wellington; Currency: NZD; PM: Christopher Luxon (National Party).
New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
India's other recent FTAs: UAE CEPA (2022), Australia ECTA (2022), Oman CEPA (2026).
New Zealand is India's 50th FTA partner.
2. INS Mahendragiri Commissioned – Final Project 17A Frigate
Why in News?
INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 11 July 2026 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the presence of CNS Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.
Key Points
Seventh and final hull of the Project 17A programme; built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai; designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) — its 100th ship design.
Named after the Mahendragiri range in the Eastern Ghats; motto: "Mighty–Majestic–Matchless."
Series timeline: INS Nilgiri (Jan 2025), Udaygiri & Himgiri (Aug 2025), Taragiri (Apr 2026), Dunagiri (21 June 2026), Mahendragiri (11 July 2026).
Launch-to-delivery time cut by ~50% (63 to 31 months); total construction time reduced ~20%.
Over 75% indigenous content; joins the Eastern Fleet; Navy's frigate fleet strength rises to 20.
Operation Urja Suraksha escorted 18 merchant vessels worth over ₹9,000 crore during the West Asia conflict.
Static Knowledge
Project 17A approved by CCS in 2015; contracts split between MDL (4 hulls) and GRSE, Kolkata (3 hulls).
MDL is a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Defence.
WDB is the Indian Navy's in-house naval design wing.
3. Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana for Sacred Groves
Why in News?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved the Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana (AVSY) with a ₹3,000 crore outlay to protect 15,000 sacred groves during 2026–2031, announced by Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav at the 7th CAMPA meeting in Coimbatore.
Key Points
Covers traditional sacred groves such as devarakadus, devvans, orans, and kovils.
India has approximately 1 lakh sacred groves spread across 19 states.
Linked to the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
CAMPA established following Supreme Court directions, later formalised by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.
Static Knowledge
Sacred groves represent India's oldest indigenous form of biodiversity conservation.
CAMPA funds are sourced from compensatory afforestation levies on diverted forest land.
4. NABARD Launches "Gramodyam" on 45th Foundation Day
Why in News?
NABARD, in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), launched "Gramodyam," an Entrepreneurship Development Programme, on 13 July 2026, marking its 45th Foundation Day.
Key Points
Aims to create around 4,000 rural entrepreneurs over three years through training, mentoring, and credit facilitation.
Implemented under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE); Institute for Industrial Development (IID) is the implementation partner.
Provides support for bankable Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and access to loans via Regional Rural Banks.
Every beneficiary undergoes e-KYC verification through NSDC.
Static Knowledge
NABARD established 12 July 1982 under the NABARD Act, 1981; HQ: Mumbai; Chairman: Shaji K.V.
NABARD manages the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
5. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Rhino Census 2026
Why in News?
The rhino population in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh, has risen to 53 following the fourth rhino census conducted between 25–27 June 2026.
Key Points
Dudhwa's rhino reintroduction project began in 1984 with five rhinos relocated from Assam.
Population trajectory: 38 (2018) → 46 (2023) → 53 (2026).
Complements ongoing rewilding efforts — four rhinos released into unfenced habitat in March 2026, taking free-ranging numbers to eight.
Dudhwa uniquely hosts both tigers and rhinos among India's Terai reserves.
Comprises Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuaries; notified as a Tiger Reserve in 1987.
Greater one-horned rhino is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; Kaziranga (Assam) hosts about two-thirds of the world's population.
6. NABARD Facilitates GI Tags for 28 New Products
Why in News?
NABARD facilitated Geographical Indication (GI) registration for 28 new traditional products, raising its total supported GI tally to 176.
Key Points
New GI products include Nalanda Bawanbuti Saree (Bihar), Bihu Pepa (Assam), and Khajuraho Metal Craft (Madhya Pradesh).
The 28 products created about 50,000 direct jobs and connected 13,000 artisans to formal markets.
Static Knowledge
GI Act: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
GI Registry located in Chennai, under CGPDTM.
Darjeeling Tea was India's first GI-tagged product (2004); India has 600+ registered GI products.
7. Jaipur Ranked Among World's Happiest Cities (Happy City Index 2026)
Why in News?
Jaipur became the only Indian city featured in the top 10 of the Happy City Index 2026 (6th edition), ranking 6th globally, announced at the UK Parliament, London.
Key Points
Happy City Index 2026 assessed 251 cities on 64 indicators across six dimensions: Citizens, Governance, Environment, Economy, Health, Mobility.
Nearly 1,000 cities were shortlisted from an initial pool of 3,400+.
The 2026 edition launched the "Happy City Alliance" and assigned a symbolic 251st position to Kyiv.
Jaipur was recognised for governance, heritage, and urban infrastructure improvements.
Static Knowledge
Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, is a UNESCO World Heritage City, popularly the "Pink City."
Happy City Index developed by the Institute for Quality of Life and Happy City Hub Ltd.
Skyroot Aerospace announced the launch window (12 July–4 August 2026) for Mission Aagaman, the maiden orbital flight of its Vikram-1 rocket, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Key Points
Vikram-1 is a multi-stage orbital launch vehicle with an all-carbon composite structure and 3D-printed engines; can carry payloads up to 350 kg to a 450 km, 60° LEO.
Builds on Mission Vikram-S (November 2022), India's first private rocket to reach space.
Success would make India the 4th country (after the US, China, and NZ's RocketLab) with a private orbital launch vehicle.
India's space economy projected to grow from ~USD 8.4 billion to USD 44 billion by 2033.
Static Knowledge
Skyroot Aerospace founded in 2018 by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka; India's first space-tech unicorn.
IN-SPACe regulates and promotes private space activities in India; ISRO Chairman: S. Somanath.
9. Obituary: S. Janaki, "Nightingale of South India"
Why in News?
Veteran playback singer S. Janaki passed away at 88 in Mysuru due to cardiac arrest.
Key Points
Recorded over 48,000 songs across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and other languages since her 1957 debut.
Won four National Film Awards and 33 State Film Awards.
Received Padma Shri (1989) and Padma Vibhushan (2023); declined the Padma Bhushan in 2013.
Static Knowledge
Born 23 April 1938, Repalle, Guntur district (then Madras Presidency).
Debut film: Telugu movie "Mahabbat" (1957).
10. US Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship
Why in News?
The US Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, striking down President Trump's Executive Order 14160 restricting automatic citizenship for children of undocumented/temporary-visa immigrants.
Key Points
14th Amendment (ratified 1868) guarantees citizenship on the principle of jus soli ("right of the soil").
Ruling significant for the Indian-American diaspora, including children born to H-1B/L-1 visa holders.
Static Knowledge
US President: Donald Trump (47th); Chief Justice: John Roberts; SCOTUS has 9 justices.
India follows a mixed jus sanguinis/jus soli model under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Prelims Practice MCQs
During PM Modi's 2026 visit to New Zealand, bilateral relations were elevated to which status?
INS Mahendragiri, commissioned in July 2026, belongs to which class of frigates?
The Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana, approved in 2026, focuses on the protection of which ecosystems?
"Gramodyam," launched by NABARD in 2026, is implemented in collaboration with which organisation?
As per the 2026 census, the rhino population in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve stands at approximately:
NABARD's GI tag facilitation efforts, as of July 2026, have supported a total of how many products?
In the Happy City Index 2026, which Indian city was ranked among the global top 10?
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1, whose launch window opened in July 2026, is designed to carry payloads to which orbit?
Which US constitutional amendment forms the basis for birthright citizenship upheld by the Supreme Court in 2026?
The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) was established under which Act?
The Central Electricity Authority projects India's peak electricity demand to reach how much by FY27?
Which organisation is India's national standards development body for telecommunications, which signed an MoU with DoT in 2026?
World Population Day is observed annually on which date?
Singer S. Janaki, who passed away in 2026, was known by which title?