Daily Bulletin

The Ministry of Jal Shakti convened the 'All India Water Secretaries’ Conference' in New Delhi to enhance cooperative federalism in water management. Key agendas included the timely implementation of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, with states urged to complete safety evaluations by the December 2026 deadline. During the conference, the ministry also released a framework for a 'City-level Action Plan for Reuse of Treated Water for Varanasi' and manuals for groundwater conservation to promote a circular water economy.

The India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), SCOPE, and Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) have inaugurated the ‘AI Champions for Digital Governance’ Summit in New Delhi. The three-day programme aims to build practical AI capabilities for senior leadership in public sector enterprises, aligned with the Government's IndiaAI Mission, to improve public service delivery.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has launched the 'Vishwas 2026' scheme to facilitate the amicable resolution of pending penalty cases under Section 14B of the EPF Act, 1952. Effective for six months, the scheme allows employers to settle disputes by paying the full interest amount due while offering a waiver on penalties with fixed compensation rates to reduce litigation.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has initiated a National Master Trainers' Program on Water Budgeting to assist Gram Panchayats in preparing scientific, community-driven Water Security Plans. In its first phase, the initiative will cover 1,000 Gram Panchayats in 100 districts across 10 states, aiming to promote sustainable water governance at the grassroots level.

At a national conference on administrative reforms in Shillong, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted key governance achievements, including the generation of over ₹4,000 crores from the disposal of scrap under the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters. He also noted that the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) now handles nearly 25 lakh grievances annually, up from 2 lakh in 2014, reflecting growing public trust.

The Supreme Court of India, in a significant ruling, has invalidated 27 previous judgments from foreigners' tribunals that had declared individuals as non-citizens. The apex court's decision underscored the necessity of adhering to due process and constitutional safeguards in matters of citizenship determination.

The Supreme Court of India has directed the Uttar Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit a status report on its probe into alleged financial irregularities concerning donations for the Ayodhya Ram temple. This development comes as a lower court extended the judicial custody of eight accused individuals by another 14 days, providing investigators with additional time for their inquiry.

The Hindi Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Tourism, chaired by Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, convened to review the progress of using Rajbhasha Hindi in official work. During the meeting, the minister released a dictionary titled Rajbhasha Shabd Sangam, which was prepared under the guidance of Smt. Mugdha Sinha, Managing Director of the India Tourism Development Corporation.

Assam Chief Minister Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that 1,679 illegal immigrants have been repatriated from Assam to Bangladesh over the past two years. This action is part of the state government's ongoing measures to address illegal immigration through the identification and deportation of individuals residing in the state without valid legal documentation.

A Delhi court has convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Tahir Hussain and four other individuals for their involvement in the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma. The officer was killed during the communal riots in North-East Delhi in February 2020, and the conviction marks a significant legal outcome in the cases pertaining to the violence.

The Supreme Court of India has raised concerns over the potential misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in cases of teenage elopement. The bench observed that parents sometimes initiate criminal proceedings under the Act to protect perceived family "honour" when adolescents in consensual relationships elope, highlighting the need for careful application of the law's stringent provisions.

The Union Territory of Ladakh is set to receive a 'customised Article 371 framework', which will establish a UT-level representative body and autonomous hill development councils for all seven districts. This administrative restructuring follows the official notification of five new districts—Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass—in addition to the existing Leh and Kargil districts.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust has initiated recruitment for its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to professionalise the administration of the Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya. The position is offered on a three-year contract, with an age eligibility of 50 to 70 years, and comes amid allegations of financial irregularities in donation collections.

Political strategist Shri Prashant Kishor and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Shri Neeraj Sinha have filed their nomination papers for the by-election in Bihar's Bankipur assembly constituency. The bypoll was necessitated after the seat was vacated by its former MLA and current BJP national president, Shri Nitin Nabin.

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has served a legal notice for defamation to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The action follows the Chief Minister's public claim regarding an alleged offer of ₹20-30 crore made to him.

The Supreme Court of India has described the formulation of an action plan to curb online pornography as an 'issue of paramount public importance'. The Court highlighted the urgent need for such measures, citing the increasing involvement of minors in sexual crimes due to the easy accessibility of pornographic material online.

West Bengal's Leader of the Opposition, Shri Suvendu Adhikari, has defended the proposed removal of the Bankra mosque near Kolkata airport, citing national security imperatives. The structure, reported to be over 130 years old, is situated approximately 165 metres from the airport's secondary runway, creating a potential conflict between security protocols and heritage preservation.

The Supreme Court of India has stayed a Madras High Court order that had imposed a blanket ban on the slaughter of cows and calves across Tamil Nadu. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed the interim order and issued a notice while hearing a special leave petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the High Court's directive.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has suspended S.S. Sahukar from his position as Chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) following serious allegations of nepotism. The suspension pertains to the alleged "illegal selection" of his daughters during a recruitment process conducted by the commission. The senior-most member of the KPSC will now discharge the chairman's duties until further orders are issued.

In a performance review for Q1 FY 2026-27, Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia noted that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is poised for double-digit growth in operating revenue. Provisional figures indicate a 19% growth in the Enterprise Business segment and an 8% year-on-year increase in Consumer Mobility revenue. The review also emphasised improving Quality of Service (QoS) alongside financial performance.

The Ministry of Textiles is promoting India's handloom heritage through ‘Indie Haat 2026’ at the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi. The event is strategically linked to Bharat Tex 2026, positioned as India's largest global textile event, which is expected to attract over 7,000 international buyers and 1,30,000 visitors. The initiative aims to provide market access for artisans and strengthen the 'Vocal for Local' campaign.

The Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms) is organising the 'Weave the Future 4.0 – Upcycling Edition' exhibition at Dilli Haat, New Delhi. The event showcases sustainable and circular textile solutions from over 100 brands and artisans, aiming to promote responsible production by transforming textile waste into valuable resources. This initiative aligns with India's goal to become a global leader in sustainable textiles.

In a separate order, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a penalty of ₹126.87 crores on HP India and a combined ₹1.22 crores on five of its resellers for anti-competitive practices. The penalty pertains to cartelisation in the supply of personal system products, where HP India was found to be manipulating reseller participation in Government e-Marketplace (GeM) tenders.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the total area sown under Kharif crops as of July 10, 2026, stood at 531.25 lakh hectares. This represents a significant decrease of 101.44 lakh hectares compared to the 632.69 lakh hectares sown during the corresponding period in 2025, indicating a slower start to the sowing season.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has invited proposals for Season 2 of the 'Create in India Challenge' (CIC), a flagship initiative to nurture talent in the Media & Entertainment sector. The program aims to execute over 50 industry-led challenges focusing on areas like AI and AVGC-XR, with selected projects eligible for a one-time grant of up to ₹1 crore.

India's exports for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2026-27 (April-June) registered a growth of 11.37% compared to the same period in the previous year. The total value of exports during this three-month period amounted to over 232 billion US dollars, indicating a robust start for the country's external trade sector.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) organised its third annual conference for the Internal Ombudsmen of its regulated entities in Mumbai. The conference serves as a platform to enhance the efficacy of internal grievance redressal mechanisms, with a focus on improving customer service and ensuring fair treatment within financial institutions.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of ₹11.98 crore on HP India and a combined penalty of approximately ₹2.30 crore on sixteen of its resellers. The action was taken for engaging in cartelisation and bid-rigging in the sale of products like toners and cartridges, which violates Section 3 of the Competition Act, 2002.

HDFC Bank has reduced its workforce by over 3,300 employees as its automation initiatives gather pace, bringing its total staff count to 211,178 as of March 31, 2026. According to its latest annual report, the bank's new hiring also declined by 3,811 compared to the previous year.

Truck operators in Rajasthan, under the banner of the Rajasthan Truck Transport Sangharsh Samiti, have commenced an indefinite strike to protest against new transport regulations. The operators contend that the new rules impose significant hardships, with the strike expected to disrupt the supply chains of essential and industrial goods across the state and neighbouring regions.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Drone Federation of India have launched NIDAR 2.0, a national innovation challenge to develop drones using indigenous technology. Part of the SwaYaan initiative, the competition challenges students to build autonomous systems powered by the Indian-made VEGA processor. With a prize pool of over ₹65 lakh, the initiative aims to create a self-reliant drone industry.

Indian-origin NASA astronaut, Mr. Anil Menon, is set to embark on an eight-month scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He will launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan along with two Russian cosmonauts to conduct various experiments in a microgravity environment.

Researchers at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom have commenced human trials for a new vaccine against the Ebola virus. The trials, involving adult volunteers, are aimed at combating the specific variant currently prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking a significant step in global efforts to control the disease.

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) celebrated women in STEM at the 'ASPIRE-SHAKTI' event in New Delhi, where it released a compendium documenting the achievements of its CSIR-ASPIRE scheme. Launched in 2023, the scheme has funded 301 women researchers, resulting in over 253 publications and 15 patent filings. The next phase will focus on commercialising 20-30 outstanding projects by connecting researchers with start-ups and innovation partners.

Automaker Mercedes-Benz India has clarified that all its Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) compliant petrol vehicles are fully compatible with E20 petrol. The advisory was issued to address public concerns regarding the fuel blend, which contains 20% ethanol and is a key component of India's National Biofuel Policy.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is intensifying the 'Catch the Rain' campaign under the AMRUT 2.0 mission to bolster water security in urban areas. The initiative involves over 900 Urban Local Bodies and focuses on rainwater harvesting, rejuvenation of 1.21 lakh acres of water bodies, and developing green spaces to mitigate urban heat stress and improve flood resilience.

Severe floods in Assam, triggered by continuous rainfall, have adversely affected over 9,000 people across six districts of the state. The swelling of several rivers has led to widespread inundation and displacement of local populations, prompting state disaster response agencies to conduct extensive rescue and relief operations.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, met with Spain's First Vice President, Mr. Carlos Cuerpo Caballero, to discuss strengthening the bilateral economic partnership. The talks focused on enhancing trade, investment, and technology collaboration, with renewable energy and green hydrogen identified as key sectors for cooperation.

The mortal remains of 15 Indian tourists who died in a speedboat accident off Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam have been repatriated to India. The operation was facilitated by the Embassy of India in Vietnam in coordination with local authorities, highlighting the consular assistance provided by Indian diplomatic missions during overseas emergencies.

Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal has refuted a media report claiming India had rejected a quick trade deal with the United States, labelling the news as "completely false, baseless and misleading." He affirmed the positive nature of bilateral discussions, noting he had "fantastic meetings" with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

India and the United States are intensifying efforts to deepen economic ties under the 'Mission $500 billion' initiative, which aims to elevate bilateral trade to the $500 billion mark. First announced in February 2026, the mission operates within the framework of the broader India-US trade deal negotiations.

The Prime Minister's Office has announced ex-gratia assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the victims of a boat accident in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district. An amount of ₹2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased individual, while ₹50,000 will be given to each person injured in the incident.

An impact evaluation study of the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) found its credit schemes significantly improved beneficiaries' socio-economic conditions. The study revealed that over 81% of recipients reported positive advancement, with the proportion of self-employed beneficiaries rising from 46.62% to 73.95%. The schemes also empowered women, with 95.6% of beneficiaries who were previously homemakers becoming self-employed.

Smt. Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of the late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has appealed to the Akal Takht to establish a 'People's Commission' to investigate historical human rights issues in Punjab. The appeal follows renewed public interest in the Khalra case, spurred by the recent release of the film 'Satluj'.

Educator and climate activist Shri Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi entered its 16th day, leading to a significant decline in his health. As of July 13, he has lost 8.2 kg, with his protest demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister over alleged examination irregularities.

A security guard has been arrested in Mumbai on allegations of sexually assaulting a child, an incident that has drawn widespread public condemnation. A major protest was held on July 12, 2026, at the Pydhonie police station demanding stringent action against the accused. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has also called for a swift investigation, highlighting concerns over child safety in the city.

The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), under 'Operation Vajra', has dismantled a sophisticated Mephedrone (MD) manufacturing laboratory in Pune. The multi-city operation led to the arrest of two chief conspirators and the seizure of high-tech machinery and precursor chemicals under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985. This action is a continuation of an investigation from February 2026, which involved the seizure of 8.17 kg of Mephedrone.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled several wildlife trafficking networks in a series of coordinated pan-India operations, leading to the arrest of 33 individuals. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of over 440 protected wild animals and approximately 15 kg of ivory articles. Key operations included the recovery of 11 kg of elephant ivory in Rajasthan and a joint operation with the CBI and WCCB in Maharashtra and West Bengal that rescued several Schedule I species, including 15 Slow Lorises.

An Assam Rifles soldier was killed and four others were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Nagaland. The incident underscores the persistent security challenges faced by paramilitary forces in the region. The injured personnel were subsequently evacuated to the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research in Dimapur for medical treatment.

A United States national, identified as Jordan Brown, was apprehended by security forces at the Indo-Nepal border for attempting to cross into Nepal without valid documents. Preliminary investigations revealed that Mr. Brown had entered India illegally via a sea route in 2025 and had been residing in the country since.

A retired Vice-Chancellor in Nainital was defrauded of ₹1.47 crore after being subjected to a 'digital arrest' for 12 days by online scammers. The perpetrators allegedly coerced the victim into transferring funds by threatening legal action. The incident highlights the growing threat of sophisticated cybercrime, with police having arrested one individual in connection with the case.

Authorities at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport seized 6.37 kg of hydroponic weed and arrested three individuals in a major anti-narcotics operation. The contraband, arriving on flights from Bangkok and Phuket, was found concealed in aircraft lavatories, under seats, and within baggage, indicating sophisticated smuggling techniques.

A contingent of 16 Indian boxers has advanced to the finals of the Asian U19 & U23 Boxing Championships, ensuring a significant medal haul for the country. This strong performance by the young pugilists highlights the depth of emerging talent in Indian boxing and signals a promising future for the sport.