Daily Current Affairs

On 1 July 2026, the Digital India programme — a flagship initiative of the Government of India (GoI) aimed at transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy — completed 11 years since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 July 2015. The programme has now expanded its focus to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and semiconductor manufacturing. It is implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

• Internet growth: Internet connections have grown approximately four times from earlier levels since the programme’s launch.
• Mobile data cost: Fell from Rs 269 per GB to Rs 8–10 per GB, making digital access among the most affordable in the world.
• Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

In a related development, in June 2026, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India in New Delhi to strengthen digital promotion of India’s tourism destinations using AI, data-driven insights, and global digital platforms.

• Objective: Leverage analytics, AI-based engagement tools, campaign optimisation, and Google’s digital ecosystem to position India as a global tourism hub showcasing its culture, nature, spirituality, wellness, and adventure offerings.
• Features: Digital tourism promotion, knowledge sharing, capacity building, AI-based engagement tools, and campaign optimisation.
• Nature of Agreement: Non-commercial, non-binding, and non-exclusive; focuses on collaborative knowledge and technology sharing.
• Initiative: Incredible India

In July 2026, Biswanath Sinha, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, assumed charge as the Chief Secretary (CS) of Kerala. His tenure will extend until September 2028.

• Predecessor: He succeeded Dr A. Jayathilak, a 1991-batch IAS officer, who retired from service on 30 June 2026.
• Experience: Over three decades of administrative experience covering internal security, police administration, vigilance, and disaster management.
• Previous role: Served as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home and Vigilance Department.
• Key past roles: District Collector of Kottayam, Wayanad, and Kozhikode; CEO of Rebuild Kerala Initiative; Joint Secretary in MoEFCC, Government of India.

In June 2026, the Government of Tamil Nadu (TN) appointed former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai as Chairman of the Curriculum Design Committee (CDC) for School Education, for a 3-year tenure, to lead curriculum modernisation for 1.3 crore students across the state.

• Objective: Modernise the school curriculum by strengthening science, technology, AI, and critical thinking skills while bridging gaps between teaching and learning systems.
• Known as: ‘Moon Man of India’
• Contributions: Contributed to 60+ satellites; led Chandrayaan-1; played key roles in Chandrayaan-2 and Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission, 2014).
• Current role: Vice President (VP) of Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TANSCST).
• Award: Received Padma Shri in 2016.

In July 2026, Himachal Pradesh (HP) secured eight new Geographical Indication (GI) registrations, taking the total number of GI-tagged products in the state from 9 to 17. The registrations were facilitated by the Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE). Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu welcomed the achievement.

• About GI Tag: A Geographical Indication (GI) is an Intellectual Property Right (IPR) under the TRIPS Agreement (Article 22).
• Legislation: Registered under GI of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
• Administered by: Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM).

In July 2026, Bank of Baroda (BoB) — one of India’s leading Public Sector Banks (PSB) — entered into a strategic partnership with Mizuho Bank, the banking arm of Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group, to enhance collaboration across Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) financing and related services.

• Combination: Mizuho’s global network, cross-border capabilities, and expertise in structured finance combined with BoB’s strong domestic presence and deep corporate relationships in India.
• Areas of Collaboration: Joint origination, structuring, co-underwriting, and syndication of acquisition finance; M&A advisory; risk distribution; foreign exchange and interest rate hedging; escrow services.
• About Bank of Baroda: HQ: Vadodara, Gujarat | Founded: 1908 | Status: Navratna PSU bank

In July 2026, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) collaborated with HSBC India and JP Morgan Payments to enable real-time Foreign Exchange (FX) settlement for cross-border Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions.

• HSBC India role: Will act as banking partner, facilitating real-time FX rates via direct API integration.
• JP Morgan role: Will support real-time FX conversion and settlement across multiple currencies.
• UPI Growth: Transaction volumes nearly doubled to 1.48 million in FY26 from 0.75 million in FY25; value reached Rs 330.43 crore (FY26) from Rs 258.53 crore (FY25).
• About NPCI: Founded: 2008 | HQ: Mumbai | Under RBI and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)

In July 2026, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), approved two major acquisition proposals under the Competition Act, 2002.

• DWS Group: Germany-based DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA; acquiring 40% stake in NIAIF.
• RCB deal significance: One of the largest sports franchise acquisitions globally.
• RCB new leadership: Aryaman Vikram Birla as Chairman; Satyan Gajwani (Chairman, The Times of India Group) as Vice Chairman.
• Seller: United Spirits Limited (USL)

In July 2026, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) announced the acquisition of Deutsche Bank’s India retail, private banking, and wealth management business for Rs 281.7 crore.

• Deal timeline: Expected to be completed by September 2027, subject to regulatory approvals including CCI.
• Strategic goal: Strengthens Kotak’s presence in affluent, private-banking, and SME segments.
• About Deutsche Bank India: Operating in India for over 45 years; services in corporate, investment, retail, private banking, and wealth management.

In July 2026, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) — a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) — signed a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of a 40% equity stake in Tiki Tar and Shell India Private Limited (TTSIPL) for Rs 85 crore.

• Regulatory approval: Approved by Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance; to be completed within 90 days.
• About TTSIPL: Incorporated in October 2019; manufactures a wide range of bitumen-based products (modified bitumen, emulsions) used in road construction and maintenance.
• Strategic goal: Strengthen BPCL’s presence in the bitumen and road infrastructure materials segment.
• About BPCL: Status: Maharatna PSU | Ministry: MoPNG

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a 3-day official visit to Seychelles from 27–29 June 2026, at the invitation of Dr. Patrick Herminie, President of Seychelles. The visit coincided with the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) of Seychelles’ National Day (independence), at which PM Modi served as Guest of Honour in Victoria, Mahe.

• Bilateral meeting: PM Modi met President Dr. Patrick Herminie at the State House, Victoria, Mahe; discussions on health, education, capacity building, digital transformation, Renewable Energy (RE), and maritime security.
• Honour: PM Modi awarded the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ title — Seychelles’ highest distinction — for leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development.
• Defence: Handover of Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV PS) LESPWAR to the Seychelles Coast Guard, strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

In July 2026, HDFC Bank Limited appointed Rajiv Kumar, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, as its Part-time Chairman for a period of 3 years, effective from the date approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

• Predecessor: He will take over from Keki Mistry, who was serving as interim chairman after Atanu Chakraborty voluntarily stepped down in March 2026 citing ethical concerns.
• Additional Charge: Also appointed as Additional Independent Director of HDFC Bank for four years, effective from 30 June 2026.
• About Rajiv Kumar: Served as 24th Chief Election Commissioner of India; oversaw multiple General and State Assembly elections.
• About HDFC Bank: HQ: Mumbai | Established: 1994 | India’s largest private sector bank by assets

In July 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Ravi Shankar as Executive Director (ED), effective from 1 July 2026. He will oversee the Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM).

• Experience: A central banker and statistician with over three decades of experience at RBI; worked across banking statistics, corporate data, government securities markets, settlement systems, debt management, and economic analysis.
• Previous role: Serving as Adviser-In-Charge of DSIM, responsible for statistical data collection, compilation, and analysis covering banking/corporate statistics, surveys, and data for monetary and financial analysis.
• About RBI: Established: 1935 under RBI Act, 1934 | HQ: Mumbai | RBI has 15 Executive Directors and 1 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | Governor: Sanjay Malhotra

On 30 June 2026, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) inaugurated the 4th Animal Taxonomy Summit (ATS 4.0) — held from 30 June to 2 July 2026 — marking the 111th Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at Dhano Dhanyo Auditorium, Kolkata, West Bengal, with 709 new faunal records documented.

• About ZSI: Founded: 1 July 1916 | HQ: Kolkata, West Bengal | Under: MoEFCC
• About BSI: Botanical Survey of India (BSI) — collaborated with ZSI on the joint Animal & Plant Discoveries 2025 publications.

GST Day is observed annually across India on 1 July to commemorate the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime — a unified indirect tax system that came into effect on 1 July 2017. To mark nine years of GST, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) organised a special event in New Delhi on 1 July 2026 under the theme ‘सुगम कर व्यवस्था, सशक्त भारत’.

• Ministry: Ministry of Finance
• Administered by: CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)
• Theme (2026): ‘सुगम कर व्यवस्था, सशक्त भारत’ (Simplified Tax System, Empowered India)

World Sports Journalists Day is observed annually on 2 July to recognise the contributions of sports journalists in promoting sports, ensuring fair reporting, and connecting people with sporting events worldwide.

• Origin: The day commemorates the establishment of the International Association of Sports Press (AIPS) on 2 July 1924.
• First observance: 2 July 1994 — the 70th anniversary of AIPS; 2026 marks the 102nd anniversary of AIPS’ founding.
• Significance: AIPS promotes fair and ethical sports journalism globally and supports press freedom in sports coverage.

In June 2026, Lieutenant General (Retired) Madan Mohan (M.M.) Lakhera, former Governor of Mizoram and former Lieutenant Governor (Lt Gov) of Puducherry, passed away at the age of 88 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

• Military decorations: Awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).

In July 2026, renowned Tamil poet, translator, screenwriter, and actor Puviyarasu passed away at the age of 96 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He was born as Jagannathan in 1930 in Lingamanayakkan Puthur, Udumalpet (Coimbatore district, TN).

• Birth name: Jagannathan; began publishing poetry in 1952.
• Literary movement: Founding member of the Vaanampaadi movement — promoting Tamil free verse poetry and modern literary expression.
• Authored: Over 120 books including poetry and translations.
• Notable translations: Works of Khalil Gibran, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Osho, and Rabindranath Tagore.
• Distinction: Two-time Sahitya Akademi Award winner — recognised for excellence in both poetry and translation.