1. India–Seychelles: "Ocean of Opportunity" — PM Modi's State Visit
Why in News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a three-day official State Visit to Seychelles (June 27–29, 2026), during which he held delegation-level talks with President Patrick Herminie and signed nine bilateral agreements, reaffirming India's MAHASAGAR doctrine in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Key Points
Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address Seychelles' National Assembly.
Nine agreements signed covering: defence, maritime security, digital cooperation, healthcare, agriculture, banking, law enforcement, and capacity building.
PM declared: India's vision is to make the Indian Ocean an "Ocean of Opportunity" — focused on peace, prosperity, and partnership.
₹1,250 crore financial assistance announced for Seychelles, including UPI integration and space technology pacts.
India pledged support for Blue Economy projects, renewable energy infrastructure, and climate adaptation.
Visit aligns with India's MAHASAGAR doctrine (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), announced in March 2025.
Seychelles: Population ~1 lakh; located in the western Indian Ocean; strategically positioned near major international shipping lanes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Modi also visited Seychelles National Botanical Gardens and interacted with Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) — Guinness World Record holder as the oldest living land animal (~194 years old).
The "Guardian of the Blue Horizon Award" was conferred on PM Modi by Seychelles in recognition of India's contribution to IOR maritime security.
Static Knowledge
SAGAR = Security and Growth for All in the Region — launched by PM Modi in Mauritius in March 2015.
MAHASAGAR = Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — launched in Mauritius in March 2025.
Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean; capital is Victoria (smallest capital city in the world).
India's coastline is approximately 7,516 km; ~90% of India's trade by value moves via sea.
IOS Sagar (Indian Ocean Ship Sagar) is an Indian Navy cooperative engagement initiative with friendly IOR nations.
2. India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) — Coming into Force
Why in News?
The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed on 24 July 2025, is set to enter into force on 15 July 2026, marking the most economically significant bilateral FTA for the UK since Brexit and India's most comprehensive trade deal with any European nation.
Key Points
The agreement liberalises 99% of UK tariffs and 90% of Indian tariffs, covering nearly 100% of trade value.
Bilateral trade stood at USD 56 billion (2025); target to double it by 2030.
GDP impact: UK GDP expected to rise by £4.8 billion/year; India's GDP to rise by £5.1 billion/year in the long run.
Bilateral trade boost: Forecast to increase by £25.5 billion/year in the long run.
Financial Services: India's first standalone financial services chapter in any FTA — locks in long-term UK market access worth £13.6 billion.
Government Procurement: India's first comprehensive government procurement chapter in an FTA; UK suppliers eligible to bid for India's central government contracts (market valued at ~£38 billion annually).
Services: UK has committed to 137 sub-sectors covering IT/ITES, financial services, education, healthcare, professional services.
Signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds, in presence of PMs Modi and Sir Keir Starmer.
Negotiations launched on 13 January 2022 after the "Enhanced Trade Partnership" of May 2021.
Static Knowledge
India's largest FTA partner is ASEAN (by coverage); other notable FTAs include: India–UAE CEPA (2022), India–Australia ECTA (2022), India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (2024).
India's share in world merchandise exports (~2026): ~1.8%; India is among the world's top-10 trading nations.
Scotch Whisky was a key UK demand; India had imposed 150% import duty — reduced significantly under CETA.
The UK–India FTA is the UK's most significant trade deal since leaving the EU in 2020.
India's services sector accounts for 55% of GDP (GVA); UK's services sector accounts for 81% of GDP.
3. India Achieves Highest-Ever Rank (94th) in 2026 UN SDG Index
Why in News?
India ranked 94th out of 167 countries in the Sustainable Development Report 2026, released at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC 2026) held on June 29–30 in Hamburg, Germany. This is India's highest-ever SDG ranking, rising 18 positions since 2015.
Key Points
Score: 68.3 out of 100 (improved from 99th in 2025).
Among the largest movers globally since 2015; India (+18) and China (+14) recorded the biggest improvements among major economies.
India still lags behind four South Asian neighbours: Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Only 33.3% of India's SDG targets are on track for 2030 achievement.
Key improvements driven by: rapid expansion of rural electrification (SDG 7) and digital broadband penetration (SDG 9).
Press Freedom Index: India's score fell sharply from 59.51 (2015) to 31.96 (2026) — one of the worst declines globally.
India's per capita CO₂ emissions rose from 1.69 tons (2015) to 2.21 tons (2026), the highest recorded level.
Globally, none of the 17 SDGs is on track for 2030 achievement; SDG 2 and SDG 16 are furthest off track.
HSC 2026 Theme:"Together we co-create sustainable development" — Three pillars: Resilient Economies; Risk, Uncertainty & Conflict; Future of Human Collaboration.
Static Knowledge
SDG Index is published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN), led by economist Jeffrey Sachs.
The 17 SDGs were adopted at the UN General Assembly in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
India adopted the SDGs through its National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), which monitors SDG progress via SDG India Index.
HSC (Hamburg Sustainability Conference) is a global platform launched in 2024; third edition held in 2026.
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) target: End all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) notified the Drugs (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2026 (vide GSR 506(E), dated June 22, 2026), expanding the QR code-based track-and-trace framework under Schedule H2 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, to include vaccines, antimicrobials, anti-cancer drugs, and narcotic/psychotropic substances.
Key Points
Earlier coverage: QR code-based identification was mandatory only for the top 300 pharmaceutical brands in India.
New coverage under Schedule H2: All vaccines, all antimicrobials, all narcotic and psychotropic drugs (under NDPS Act, 1985), and all anti-cancer drugs.
Manufacturers must print or affix a Bar Code/QR Code on the primary (or secondary, if primary is space-constrained) packaging.
QR code will carry 9 data elements: Drug name, brand name, manufacturer name and address, batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, MRP, and unique product identification code.
Timeline: Rules for vaccines, anti-cancer drugs, and NDPS drugs effective from 1 July 2027; antimicrobials from 1 July 2028 (phased to allow industry compliance).
Aims to curb counterfeit and substandard medicines, enhance Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) monitoring, and improve pharmaceutical supply chain integrity.
Aligns with "Nasha Mukt Bharat" programme and strengthens India's credibility with US FDA and EMA regulators.
Amendment follows consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and public comment period from October 2025.
Static Knowledge
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 is the principal legislation regulating import, manufacture, and distribution of drugs in India.
Schedule H drugs require a doctor's prescription for purchase; Schedule H1 covers more stringent requirements for TB, HIV, and third-generation antibiotics.
CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) is the national regulatory authority for pharmaceuticals in India, under MoHFW.
AMR = Antimicrobial Resistance — declared a global health emergency by WHO; India is among the countries with the highest AMR burden.
NDPS Act, 1985 governs narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India; Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) enforces it.
5. Central Sanskrit University Launches AICTE-Approved B.Tech in AI & Data Science
Why in News?
The Central Sanskrit University (CSU), a centrally funded institution under the Ministry of Education, has received AICTE approval to launch a B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at its Nashik campus from academic session 2026–27, making it the first Sanskrit university in India to enter engineering education. PM Modi praised the initiative during Mann Ki Baat (Episode 135) on June 28, 2026.
Key Points
Total seats: 66 (60 regular + 6 supernumerary, including 10% EWS reservation).
Admission: Through JEE scores.
Programme duration: Four years (undergraduate).
Curriculum integrates AI, machine learning, data analytics, Natural Language Processing (NLP), OCR, and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) — Sanskrit, Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotisha, Vastu, Nyaya.
Aims to develop AI-powered tools for Sanskrit and Indian languages, enable manuscript digitisation, and apply computation to classical disciplines.
Aligns with NEP 2020's vision of multidisciplinary, knowledge-integrated education.
Students access AICTE schemes: PARAKH, Pragati, Saksham, and Swanath scholarships; Smart India Hackathon platform.
Last date to apply: 30 June 2026.
CSU Vice-Chancellor Srinivas Varkhedi described it as a "revolutionary milestone."
Static Knowledge
Central Sanskrit University is headquartered in New Delhi (Janakpuri); established under the Central Sanskrit Universities Act, 2020, merging Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan with Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha.
AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) is a statutory body under Ministry of Education; set up in 1945, statutory status in 1987.
NEP 2020 envisions multidisciplinary universities integrating arts, sciences, and vocational education; promotes integration of IKS across curricula.
Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division was established by MoE in 2020 to promote research on ancient Indian knowledge.
Mann Ki Baat is a monthly radio programme by PM Modi launched on 3 October 2014; broadcast on All India Radio.
6. Tungabhadra Dam — 33 New Spillway Gates Inaugurated (Cooperative Federalism)
Why in News?
Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar, along with APs CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy, and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, jointly inaugurated the 33 newly installed crest (spillway) gates of the Tungabhadra Dam at Munirabad, Koppal district, Karnataka on June 25, 2026.
Key Points
Original crest gates installed in 1953 (73 years old); replaced after Gate No. 19 washed away in August 2024.
New gates: 20 feet high, 60 feet wide, weighing 48.50 tonnes each; built of high-grade steel.
Cost of replacement: ₹51 crore; completed in a record 123 days.
Dam location: Koppal district, Karnataka; on the Tungabhadra river (a tributary of Krishna).
Irrigation coverage: 12 lakh hectares (16.4 lakh acres) across three states — Karnataka (9.26 lakh acres), Andhra Pradesh (6.25 lakh acres), Telangana (87,000 acres).
Original water storage capacity: 133 TMC ft (Thousand Million Cubic feet); now reduced to ~105–106 TMC ft due to siltation.
Administered by the Tungabhadra Board (inter-state body).
Significance: First time CMs of all three beneficiary states jointly attended; hailed as a model of cooperative federalism in inter-state water resource management.
Central Water Commission (CWC) gave clearance for gate replacement.
Static Knowledge
Tungabhadra River is a major south-flowing tributary of the Krishna River; originates in Western Ghats.
Tungabhadra Board is an inter-state statutory body established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956; it oversees water allocation among Karnataka, AP, and Telangana.
India's inter-state river water disputes are adjudicated under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
Other ongoing disputes: Cauvery (Karnataka–TN), Mahadayi (Goa–Karnataka–Maharashtra), Sutlej–Yamuna Link (Punjab–Haryana).
CWC (Central Water Commission) is a premier technical organisation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti; advises on water resource development.
7. RBI Keeps Repo Rate Unchanged at 5.25% — June MPC Decision
Why in News?
The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided unanimously to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% for the third consecutive meeting, retaining its "neutral" monetary policy stance amid global headwinds from the prolonged West Asia conflict, elevated energy prices, and supply chain disruptions.
Policy Stance: Neutral (maintained from earlier in the year).
GDP Growth Forecast for FY 2026–27: Revised downward to 6.6% (from earlier estimate of 6.9%); quarterly outlook: Q1: 6.6%, Q2: 6.3%, Q3: 6.5%, Q4: 6.8%.
Inflation Forecast: Revised upward to 5.1% (from 4.6%); driven by higher LPG, base metals, plastics, and rubber prices. Core inflation projected at 4.7%.
Key risks cited: prolonged West Asia conflict, weakening rupee, rising bond yields.
RBI Governor: Sanjay Malhotra.
Static Knowledge
MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) was constituted under the RBI Act, 1934, amended in 2016; has 6 members (3 from RBI + 3 external members appointed by Government).
Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI lends to commercial banks (overnight); changes directly affect borrowing costs.
SDF (Standing Deposit Facility): Rate at which banks park excess liquidity with RBI without collateral.
MSF (Marginal Standing Facility): Penal rate at which banks borrow above-repo-rate in emergencies; always 0.25% above repo.
RBI's inflation target is 4% ± 2% (i.e., 2%–6% tolerance band) under the Flexible Inflation Targeting framework.
India–China relations continued on a path of gradual normalisation as Indian Embassy officials met Xinhua (China's state news agency) representatives in Beijing in late June 2026, alongside resumed Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, visa facilitation, and flight restoration post the 2020 Eastern Ladakh standoff.
Key Points
NSA Ajit Doval had met Chinese FM Wang Yi on June 22, 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs' Meeting in New Delhi; described as "constructive and forward-looking."
The two sides noted "progress towards gradual normalisation" and underlined the need for stable, predictable, and constructive bilateral relations.
Key developments in normalisation: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumed, student visas restarted, direct flights restored.
Underlying tension: Trade imbalance — India runs a significant deficit with China; unresolved issues over Line of Actual Control (LAC) patrolling protocols.
India remains cautious: Strengthening Quad, engaging ASEAN while engaging China diplomatically.
Static Knowledge
Galwan Valley clash: June 15–16, 2020 — deadliest India–China border incident since 1967; 20 Indian soldiers martyred; triggered freeze in diplomatic and economic ties.
LAC (Line of Actual Control) is the de facto border between India and China; not formally demarcated; stretches ~3,488 km across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
BRICS = Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Saudi Arabia).
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a Hindu pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet (China); facilitated by MEA.
Special Representatives Mechanism on boundary questions: India's NSA and China's Special Representative (FM Wang Yi) lead these talks.
9. Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2026 — Key Context for India
Why in News?
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) 2026 opened on June 29–30, 2026 in Hamburg, Germany, with the SDG Index and global food insecurity data dominating discussions. India's performance and challenges are central to the global SDG debate.
Key Points
HSC 2026 Theme:"Together we co-create sustainable development"
Three pillars:
Resilient Economies, Technology and the Future of Our Planet (industrial decarbonisation, Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for SDGs)
Risk, Uncertainty and Conflict (geopolitical fallout, supply chain disruptions)
Ensuring the Future of Human Collaboration (reforming multilateralism, North-South trust)
Global context: 266 million people across 47 countries face acute food insecurity (GRFC 2026 data); global military spending hit $2.7 trillion in 2024 (record high).
Global SDG progress stalled: None of the 17 goals on track for 2030.
India among the fastest-improving major economies in the SDG Index.
Sustainable Development Report 2026 released by UN SDSN at the conference.
Static Knowledge
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015, replacing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2000–2015).
UN SDSN = United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network; founded in 2012 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
GRFC = Global Report on Food Crises; published by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN).
The Sustainable Development Report (annual) combines SDG Index scores for all UN member states.
India's SDG monitoring body: NITI Aayog publishes the SDG India Index (annual).
Prelims Practice MCQs
With reference to India's MAHASAGAR doctrine, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. 2. It was announced during PM Modi's visit to Mauritius in March 2025. 3. It replaced the SAGAR doctrine (2015) and limits its focus to the Indian Ocean only. Select the correct answer using the codes below:
The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is set to come into force on which date?
India's rank in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2026, released at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, is:
Which of the following categories of drugs has been newly brought under the QR code-based track-and-trace framework (Schedule H2) under the Drugs (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2026?
The Tungabhadra Dam is located in which district of Karnataka?
Consider the following statements about Central Sanskrit University (CSU): 1. It is a central university under the Ministry of Education. 2. It has been established under the Central Sanskrit Universities Act, 2020. 3. Its B.Tech in AI & Data Science at Nashik campus is AICTE-approved and offers 66 seats. Which of the statements given above are correct?
The "Guardian of the Blue Horizon Award" was recently conferred on PM Narendra Modi by which country?
Under the Drugs (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2026, the QR code track-and-trace requirements for antimicrobial drugs will come into force from:
The Tungabhadra Board is constituted under which legislation?
Which of the following accurately describes the SDSN (Sustainable Development Solutions Network)?
India's current repo rate (as of June 2026 MPC meeting) and the associated policy stance are:
Which of the following is correctly matched with regard to the India–UK CETA?
"Jonathan," referenced in the news during PM Modi's visit to Seychelles, is notable because:
Under the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2026, which of the following is NOT among the SDGs identified as facing major challenges in India?
Which body administers and monitors India's SDG progress domestically?