National Affairs
- Amit Shah announced that anti-Maoist operations will continue during monsoon, reiterating the March 2026 deadline to eliminate Maoism.
- National Forensic Science University and a Central Forensic Science Lab were inaugurated in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
- Minority Affairs Ministry is pushing states to upload Waqf property details on the UMEED portal within six months.
- IIT Delhi achieved India’s longest free-space quantum key distribution (1 km); aims for satellite-based quantum communication by 2030.
- DGCA took action against 3 Air India officials for pilot license mismanagement after the Ahmedabad crash.
- India increased Russian oil imports to over 2 million bpd in June 2025 — more than combined West Asian suppliers.
- India’s oil imports from the US also surged to 439,000 bpd in June from 280,000 in May.
- India’s refiners may benefit from Strait of Hormuz disruptions as European jet fuel supply faces logistical risks.
- Private participation in India’s space sector is still in a developing stage, says Science Minister Jitendra Singh.
- HAL won the ₹511 crore contract to manufacture SSLVs; private bidders including Skyroot and Agnikul lost out.
- No progress in ASEAN-India trade agreement review despite 9 meetings in a year; India seeks reciprocity in tariff openings.
- India and the U.S. struggle to finalize a bilateral trade deal before July 9 due to dairy and agriculture issues.
- SCO meetings bring Ajit Doval and Rajnath Singh to China amid resumed Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and border dialogues.
- India and China discussed direct flights, visa liberalization, and disengagement along the LAC.
- Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumed after 5 years with 750 pilgrims to visit via Tibet in batches.
- PM Modi visited Cyprus—first Indian Prime Ministerial visit in 23 years, marking a diplomatic push in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- India to conduct its first comprehensive Household Income Survey in 2026, aiming to improve data on income distribution.
- Tripura became India’s third fully literate state under the ULLAS (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram), after Mizoram and Goa.
- NIIH under ICMR launched India’s first National Rare Blood Donor Registry to help patients with rare blood types like Bombay or Rhnull.
- NAVYA scheme launched as a pilot to skill adolescent girls aged 16–18 under Viksit Bharat@2047 Vision.
- MoPR and IIM Ahmedabad launched a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme to boost Panchayats’ own source revenue generation.
- Kamakhya Temple’s Ambubachi Mela 2025 began in Assam, celebrating the menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya.
- Sree Narayana Guru–Gandhi 1925 conversation centenary celebrated, marking a key moment in anti-caste social reform.
International Affairs
- Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases in Qatar (al-Udeid) and Iraq (Ain al-Assad) after Israeli and American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
- Qatar intercepted Iran’s missiles and temporarily closed its airspace; India advised citizens to stay indoors.
- Iran’s Parliament moved a bill to end cooperation with the IAEA over violations of sovereignty.
- Pakistan condemned the U.S. attack on Iran a day after nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
- FATF traced a 2020 seized cargo to Pakistan’s National Development Complex, raising concerns about dual-use exports.
- Bangladesh’s Election Commission admitted it cannot conduct free elections without government support.
- India rejected references to Jammu & Kashmir by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as factually incorrect and interference in internal matters.
- UK Parliament passed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, allowing assisted dying under strict conditions for terminal patients.
Visa and Immigration
- The U.S. now requires F, M, and J visa applicants (including students) to set their social media accounts to “public” for national security vetting.
- U.S. embassies will soon reopen visa appointments for F, M, and J categories globally.
Environment & Climate
- WMO’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 Report found Asia is warming twice as fast as the global average; India’s coastal sea level rise exceeds global rates.
- UNEP launched the NDC Cooling Guidelines 2025 to integrate sustainable cooling strategies into national climate plans and NDCs.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution launched, forming a third global environmental science body after IPCC and IPBES.
- A new term, ‘Thirstwave’ was coined to describe extreme atmospheric demand for evaporation over multiple days, relevant to water stress and agriculture.
Banking & Economy
- RBI to develop a Digital Payment Intelligence Platform (DPIP) with banks to curb rising frauds, which surged to ₹36,014 crore in FY25 from ₹12,230 crore in FY24.
- FATF flagged proliferation financing threats and evasion tactics involving dual-use technologies, shell companies, and virtual assets.
Disasters & Conflict-Linked Issues
- ONGC deployed global experts to contain a blowout in an Assam oil well, raising environmental and safety concerns.
- Ongoing wars (Ukraine, Iran, Israel) pose rising environmental threats, from radioactive leaks to GHG emissions and deforestation.
West Asia Crisis
- A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran is now in effect, following days of intense missile exchanges and after Iran’s attack on a U.S. base in Qatar triggered regional escalation.
- U.S. President Donald Trump mediated the ceasefire, urging both countries to stand down; Israel and Iran agreed conditionally.
- Despite the truce, Israel conducted limited airstrikes near Tehran, drawing strong public rebuke from Trump.
- Iran fired multiple missile barrages before ceasefire activation, killing 4 and injuring 22; claimed retaliation for Israeli aggression.
- Iran’s nuclear chief confirmed that damage assessment of nuclear sites was underway and restoration was planned.
- Trump declared it his “great honor to destroy all nuclear facilities and then stop the war,” emphasizing the U.S. role in de-escalation.
- The situation remains fragile but calmer, with international pressure focused on preventing ceasefire violations.
Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment
- A new in vivo CAR T-cell technique using mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs) has shown success in reprogramming T-cells inside the body, offering a potentially safer, cheaper, and scalable alternative to conventional lab-engineered CAR T-cell therapy.
- CAR T-cell therapy trains immune cells to destroy cancer cells by inserting synthetic receptor (CAR) genes, typically targeting CD19 or CD20 markers.
- Traditional therapy is complex, expensive (~₹60–70 lakh in India), and requires ex vivo cell modification and chemotherapy (lymphodepletion).
- The new method bypasses lab processing by injecting lipid nanoparticles (CD8-tLNPs) carrying mRNA instructions directly into the body.
- This approach achieved tumour regression in mice and B-cell depletion in monkeys without chemotherapy or hospitalisation.
- The platform used Lipid 829, a safer carrier with minimal liver inflammation, and eliminated the need for viral vectors.
- Preclinical trials showed transient CAR expression, reducing risk of long-term immune suppression or genetic side effects.
- Potential applications include treating blood cancers (like DLBCL, ALL) and autoimmune diseases (like lupus, myositis).
- If successful in human trials, this method could democratize access to CAR T therapy in resource-limited settings like India.
Carbon Capture
- Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) is being applied across global farmlands, including in India, to capture atmospheric CO₂ by accelerating natural rock weathering using crushed basalt, though its carbon removal potential varies with soil, rock, and climate conditions.
- ERW speeds up natural chemical weathering, converting CO₂ to bicarbonate and eventually limestone.
- Basalt, a quick-weathering rock, is finely crushed and spread over soil to increase the surface reaction area.
- Field trials show variable CO₂ capture—from 10.5 tonnes/ha over 4 years (U.S.) to much lower in Malaysia and Australia.
- Co-benefits: Increases soil alkalinity, crop productivity, and reduces future water acidification and CO₂ release.
- Challenges: Measuring carbon capture is complex due to interference by stronger soil acids, health risks from dust exposure, and metal contamination in certain rocks.
West Asia & Nuclear Diplomacy
- Iran signaled its willingness to resume nuclear talks with the U.S. amid a fragile ceasefire with Israel, while reaffirming its right to peaceful atomic energy and denying any intent to acquire nuclear weapons.
- The ceasefire followed 12 days of conflict, including U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and Iran’s missile retaliation.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized diplomacy while insisting on legitimate nuclear rights under international law.
- Death toll revised: Iran reported 610 civilians killed and over 4,700 wounded; Israel suffered 28 deaths from Iranian strikes.
- Iran urged Gulf nations, including the UAE, to convey its peaceful intentions to the U.S.
NATO & Transatlantic Security
- U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt over NATO’s mutual defence guarantee (Article 5) ahead of the alliance summit in The Hague, reviving concerns over Washington’s commitment to collective security.
- Trump said his stance on Article 5 “depends on the definition”, creating ambiguity around the U.S. role in NATO’s mutual defence obligations.
- NATO’s Article 5 enshrines the principle that an attack on one member is an attack on all — a core alliance tenet since 1949.
- Trump reiterated criticism of NATO members’ low defence spending, proposing a new target of 4–5% of GDP, above the current 2% guideline.
- These comments come amid broader geopolitical turmoil, including the Iran-Israel conflict and the West Asia ceasefire.
Maritime Policy
- The International Maritime Federation warned that DG Shipping’s age-based ship retirement order could force the premature scrapping of over 700 Indian vessels, risking job loss for 20,000 seafarers and affecting over 1 lakh livelihoods.
- DG Shipping Order 6/2023 mandates scrapping of ships aged 20 years or older, including penalties for Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) holders.
- The IMF argues this could destabilize India’s coastal shipping ecosystem and undermine employment.
- Data shows older, well-maintained ships (25+ years) often have better safety records due to survivorship bias and rigorous upkeep.
- Stakeholders call the order a “blanket ban” lacking nuanced risk-based criteria.
Trade & Export Policy
- Exporters in India are no longer required to operate from Special Economic Zones (SEZs), as the government shifts to a cluster-based export strategy under Make in India, PLI, ODOP, and DEH schemes.
- FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced that India’s total exports hit a record $825 billion, growing at 6.3%, outpacing the global average of 4%.
- The government is promoting export diversification via One District One Product (ODOP) and Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiatives.
- The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and Make in India are key components of the export-driven growth model.
- The policy shift indicates greater flexibility for MSMEs and non-SEZ units to participate in global trade.
Counterterrorism Capability
- The Defence Ministry approved ₹2,000 crore worth of emergency procurement (EP) for the Indian Army, concluding 13 contracts for indigenous systems to enhance counterterrorism readiness, mobility, and situational awareness.
- ₹1,981.9 crore out of ₹2,000 crore sanctioned under Emergency Procurement (EP) mechanism has been utilized.
- Fast-tracked acquisitions include:
- Drone Detection & Interdiction Systems
- Loitering Munitions & Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicles
- Low Level Radars, VSHORADs (Very Short Range Air Defence Systems)
- Bulletproof Jackets, Ballistic Helmets, Night Sights
- Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles (Heavy & Medium)
- All systems are indigenously sourced, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.
- EP mechanism bridges urgent capability gaps during high-risk or active conflict scenarios.
India–Mauritius Ties
- PM Narendra Modi invited Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam to India, reaffirming the MAHASAGAR framework and commitment to their Enhanced Strategic Partnership in areas like defence, maritime security, digital infrastructure, and development.
- The MAHASAGAR principle promotes India’s vision for maritime security and regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Areas of cooperation:
- Development partnership & capacity building
- Defence & maritime security
- Digital infrastructure & people-to-people ties
- The call emphasized India–Mauritius’ special historical and strategic relationship.
Public Health Systems
- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the CGHS Directorate for failing to revise its drug procurement policy, causing outdated medicines and delays, as flagged in the CAG’s 2022 audit report.
- CAG audit (2022) found:
- No regular revision of drug formulary (not even half-yearly as recommended).
- Inefficient tendering and absence of rate contracts hindered timely procurement.
- Several private hospitals exited CGHS due to outdated reimbursement rates.
- Union Health Secretary informed PAC that revisions to rate lists and policy upgrades are in process.
- Broader concerns raised include:
- Supply of outdated medicines
- Delayed claim settlements
- Lack of inclusion of modern procedures and treatments