1. Union Cabinet Approves National Data Governance Framework Policy (NDGFP) 2026
Why in News?
The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the National Data Governance Framework Policy (NDGFP) 2026 on 8 July 2026, establishing a unified framework for anonymised government data sharing to boost AI research, startups, and innovation.
Key Points
The framework will be operationalised through the India Data Management Office (IDMO), established in 2022 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Enables anonymised datasets from multiple central ministries to be shared through the India Datasets Platform for researchers and startups.
Complements the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023 — India's first comprehensive personal data protection law.
Aligned with the IndiaAI Mission, which has an outlay of ₹10,372 crore (approved March 2024).
Aims to strengthen India's position in global AI development; India ranks among the top nations in AI talent concentration as per international rankings.
Union Minister of Electronics and IT: Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Static Knowledge
Digital India Corporation, under which IDMO functions, was formerly the Media Lab Asia.
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 governs processing of digital personal data in India.
MeitY was created in 2016 by bifurcating the Department of Electronics and Information Technology.
2. PM-PRANAM Scheme Launched to Promote Balanced Fertiliser Use
Why in News?
PM Narendra Modi launched the PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM) at a national agriculture conclave in New Delhi on 8 July 2026, with an outlay of ₹2.11 lakh crore.
Key Points
The scheme incentivises states to reduce chemical fertiliser consumption and shift toward nano-fertilisers, bio-stimulants, and organic inputs.
50% of the savings on fertiliser subsidy will be shared with the implementing state as a grant.
India is among the world's largest consumers of urea and Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP).
Fertiliser subsidy under Union Budget 2025-26 stood at approximately ₹1.64 lakh crore.
Conceptualised by the Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F).
Complements existing soil health initiatives and India's push toward sustainable agriculture.
Static Knowledge
Fertiliser consumption in India is regulated under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Soil Health Card Scheme was launched in 2015 to promote judicious fertiliser use.
Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme governs subsidies on phosphatic and potassic fertilisers.
3. Agni-Prime Ballistic Missile Test-Fired
Why in News?
India successfully test-fired the Agni-Prime (Agni-P) ballistic missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, on 8 July 2026, validating its navigation, guidance, and propulsion systems.
Key Points
Conducted jointly by DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
Agni-P is a new-generation, canisterised, dual-redundant navigation-guided ballistic missile with a range of 1,000–2,000 km.
Uses composite propellant (lighter and more efficient than conventional solid propellant).
Features Manoeuvring Re-entry Vehicle (MARV) technology, making it harder to intercept.
First successfully tested on 18 December 2021.
DRDO Chairman: Samir V. Kamat.
Static Knowledge
Strategic Forces Command (SFC), established in 2003, manages India's nuclear arsenal under the Nuclear Command Authority.
Agni missile series includes Agni-I to Agni-V and the intermediate Agni-Prime.
APJ Abdul Kalam Island (formerly Wheeler Island) is India's primary missile testing range, off the Odisha coast.
4. India's Forex Reserves Hit Record $710.5 Billion
Why in News?
India's foreign exchange reserves rose to an all-time high of $710.5 billion as of the week ending 4 July 2026, as per RBI data released on 8 July 2026.
Key Points
Crossed the $710 billion mark for the first time, driven by strong FII inflows and RBI's strategic reserve accumulation.
Forex reserves comprise foreign currency assets, gold reserves, SDRs, and India's reserve position with the IMF.
RBI manages India's forex reserves under the RBI Act, 1934.
India's forex reserves rank among the largest in the world.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) are international reserve assets created by the IMF.
5. India Hosts BRICS Women's Ministerial Meeting in Kochi
Why in News?
As part of its 2026 BRICS Chairship, India is hosting the BRICS Women's Ministerial Meeting in Kochi, Kerala, on 8–9 July 2026, focused on women-led development, leadership, and financial inclusion.
Key Points
The ministerial meeting was preceded by a Working Group session to strengthen cooperative frameworks among BRICS nations on women's economic empowerment.
Central themes: resilience, innovation, and sustainability across member nations.
India holds the BRICS Chairship for 2026, hosting multiple sectoral meetings ahead of the BRICS Summit.
Static Knowledge
BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa; expanded membership now includes additional nations.
BRICS was conceptualised as "BRIC" by economist Jim O'Neill in 2001; South Africa joined in 2010.
6. BRICS Nations Adopt 'Guwahati Declaration' Against Drug Syndicates
Why in News?
BRICS nations adopted the 'Guwahati Declaration' to tackle transnational drug syndicates, following a high-level meeting of BRICS anti-drug agencies hosted in Guwahati, Assam.
Key Points
India called for a robust partnership built on speed, trust, and seamless real-time intelligence sharing among member nations.
The declaration underscores a coordinated approach to dismantle illicit drug networks and curb cross-border smuggling.
Reflects India's growing role in shaping BRICS security cooperation agendas.
Static Knowledge
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is India's nodal agency for combating drug trafficking.
India follows a "zero-tolerance" policy toward drugs under the NDPS Act, 1985.
7. RBI Releases Annual Report of Ombudsman Schemes 2024-25
Why in News?
The RBI released its Annual Report of the Ombudsman Schemes 2024-25 on 8 July 2026, showing total complaints under the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) rose 24% to 9.42 lakh from 7.60 lakh in 2023-24.
Key Points
Digital payment failures and loan-related grievances were the top complaint categories.
RB-IOS was launched on 12 November 2021, consolidating the Banking Ombudsman Scheme (2006), Ombudsman Scheme for NBFCs (2018), and Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions (2019) into a single framework.
Operates under the principle of "One Nation, One Ombudsman."
Complaint resolution rate under RB-IOS stood at 96.8% in 2024-25.
RBI Governor: Sanjay Malhotra (appointed December 2024).
Static Knowledge
RBI was established on 1 April 1935 under the RBI Act, 1934; headquartered in Mumbai.
The Banking Ombudsman Scheme was first introduced in 1995 and revised in 2006.
8. 7th Annual Meeting of BIMSTEC Senior Officials Held in New Delhi
Why in News?
India hosted the 7th Annual Meeting of BIMSTEC Senior Officials in New Delhi on 7–8 July 2026, chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, ahead of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit scheduled for late 2026.
Key Points
The meeting reviewed progress across BIMSTEC's six priority sectors: Trade, Connectivity, Security, Energy, Blue Economy, and People-to-People Contact.
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises seven member states.
India plays a lead coordinating role in BIMSTEC's security and connectivity pillars.
Static Knowledge
BIMSTEC was established in 1997; headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Member states: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
9. UDISE+ 2025-26 and Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 Released
Why in News?
The Ministry of Education released the UDISE+ 2025-26 report and Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for 2025-26, showing declining dropout rates and improved teacher strength, alongside continued challenges in learning retention.
Key Points
UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) is India's official digital database for school education, maintained by the Ministry of Education.
Data is populated through voluntary uploads by schools holding active UDISE+ codes.
PGI 2.0 evaluates states and Union Territories across six domains of school education performance.
The reports highlight the need to improve student retention at higher classes despite overall improvement in infrastructure and teacher availability.
Static Knowledge
UDISE was initiated in 2012-13 by merging DISE and Secondary Education MIS; renamed UDISE+ in 2018-19.
PGI was first launched in 2019 to assess state-level school education performance.
10. New Flowering Plant Species Canscora agni Discovered
Why in News?
Researchers discovered a new flowering plant species, Canscora agni, in the fire-prone savannas of western India.
Key Points
The discovery highlights the ecological importance of fire-maintained savanna ecosystems.
"Agni" (meaning fire in several Indian languages) reflects the plant's association with fire-prone habitats.
Periodic fire removes excessive woody growth, maintains open grassland ecosystems, and promotes native grasses and specialised dwarf plants like Canscora agni.
Highlights the conservation significance of India's lesser-studied savanna ecosystems, often overshadowed by forest conservation priorities.
Static Knowledge
India's savanna ecosystems are found in parts of the Deccan Plateau and Western Ghats foothills.
Fire-adapted ecosystems are termed "pyric" ecosystems in ecological literature.
11. India-Costa Rica JETCO Meeting Held Virtually
Why in News?
India and Costa Rica held their first virtual Joint Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and regulatory cooperation.
Key Points
Both sides reviewed trade and investment relations, regulatory systems, and steps to deepen economic engagement.
Cooperation areas identified: standards, certification, food safety, pharmaceutical regulation, and export certification.
India highlighted collaboration opportunities in pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, manufacturing, and innovation.
Costa Rica shared its experience with Central American regional trade integration.
Static Knowledge
JETCO (Joint Trade Committee) mechanisms are used by India to institutionalise bilateral trade dialogue with partner countries.
Costa Rica is a Central American nation; India has been expanding trade ties with Latin American economies.
12. Ministry of Cooperation Marks 5th Foundation Day
Why in News?
The Ministry of Cooperation marked its 5th Foundation Day on 6 July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, highlighting achievements in cooperative sector digitisation.
Key Points
India has over 8.5 lakh cooperatives serving nearly 32 crore members across around 30 sectors, present in almost 98% of rural India.
Nearly 10 crore women are linked to cooperatives through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Maharashtra accounts for over a quarter of all cooperatives; top five states (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka) account for 57% of the national total.
50,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) have been converted into e-PACS.
As of June 2026: 39,177 PACS function as PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, 54,117 as Common Service Centres, and 4,248 approved as Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
Static Knowledge
Ministry of Cooperation was created in July 2021 under the "Sahakar se Samriddhi" vision.
PACS operate as the grassroots-level institutions of India's short-term cooperative credit structure.
Prelims Practice MCQs
The National Data Governance Framework Policy (NDGFP) 2026 will be operationalised through which body?
The PM-PRANAM Scheme, launched in July 2026, primarily aims to:
Agni-Prime (Agni-P), recently test-fired from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, has an approximate range of:
Which organisation manages India's nuclear arsenal under the Nuclear Command Authority?
As per RBI data, India's foreign exchange reserves crossed which milestone in the week ending 4 July 2026?
India is hosting the BRICS Women's Ministerial Meeting 2026 in which city?
The 'Guwahati Declaration', adopted by BRICS nations in 2026, primarily addresses:
The RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) operates under which guiding principle?
The 7th Annual Meeting of BIMSTEC Senior Officials was chaired by which Indian official?
BIMSTEC headquarters is located in:
UDISE+ is maintained by which ministry?
The newly discovered flowering plant species Canscora agni was found in which type of ecosystem?
The Ministry of Cooperation, which marked its 5th Foundation Day in July 2026, was established under which guiding vision?
Who is the current Governor of the Reserve Bank of India as referenced in the RBI Ombudsman Report 2024-25?