Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (10th July 2026) |

National News

India Introduces LoA Regime to Boost Sustainable Sea Fishing

India launched the Letter of Authorisation (LoA) regime.
Promotes sustainable high-seas fishing.
Strengthens India’s Blue Economy.
Launched by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Allows regulated fishing beyond coastal waters.
Covers EEZ and open sea fishing.
Reduces pressure on coastal fisheries.
Supports FFPOs and fishermen cooperatives.
Odisha launched Deep Sea Fishing Mission 2026–2036 worth ₹2,295.45 crore.
India contributes around 8% of global fish production.
Key Fact: India has over 11,000 km coastline and an EEZ of nearly 24 lakh sq km.

GSI Discovers Thorium Deposits in Karnataka’s Gundlupet Taluk

GSI discovered thorium deposits in Karnataka.
Location: Gundlupet, Chamarajanagar district.
Deposits spread across nearly 700 acres.
Core mining area covers about 20 acres.
Discovery announced on 9 July 2026.
Thorium is a potential nuclear fuel.
Thorium can produce Uranium-233.
Deposits are associated with monazite mineral.
GSI functions under the Ministry of Mines.
Discovery strengthens India’s nuclear resource base.
Key Fact: Thorium has Atomic Number 90.

ICMR to Establish India’s First High-Altitude Medicine Centre

ICMR will establish India’s first High-Altitude Medicine Centre.
Centre will be located at Keylong, Himachal Pradesh.
Situated in Lahaul and Spiti district.
Existing field station will be upgraded.
Focus on altitude medicine research.
Research on HAPE and HACE.
Uses telemedicine and drone healthcare.
Supports disease surveillance.
Collaborates with AFMS and DRDO.
Improves healthcare in Himalayan regions.
Key Fact: Keylong is located at an altitude of over 2,500 metres.

AISHE Reports Show Record Growth in Higher Education Enrolment

Ministry of Education released AISHE Reports.
Reports cover 2022–23 and 2023–24.
Total enrolment reached 4.5 crore students.
GER increased to 30%.
Female enrolment reached 2.24 crore.
Female GER increased to 31.2.
Gender Parity Index reached 1.08.
STEM enrolment crossed one crore.
Women account for 44% of STEM students.
Faculty strength reached 17.32 lakh.
Key Fact: Higher education enrolment increased 31.5% since 2014–15.

State News

Tamil Nadu Tops India in Higher Education GER

Tamil Nadu ranked first in higher education GER.
GER reached 52.3% in 2023–24.
National average GER is 30%.
GER increased from 49.1% in 2022–23.
Female GER stood at 53.1%.
Male GER was 51.6%.
Female GER exceeded male GER for the third consecutive year.
Around 35.8 lakh students were enrolled in higher education.
The state has 2,18,656 higher education faculty members.
Tamil Nadu accounts for 12.6% of India’s teaching workforce.
Key Fact: Tamil Nadu recorded the highest Higher Education GER (52.3%) in India.

Srikakulam to Get New Airport Under UDAN Scheme

Srikakulam will get a new greenfield airport.
Project is under the UDAN Scheme.
Airport will be developed in Mandasa Mandal.
Palasa has been identified for the domestic airport.
Total project area is 1,383 acres.
AAI and APADC signed an agreement in November 2025.
Land acquisition is underway in two phases.
Modified UDAN Scheme covers 2026–2036.
Scheme has an outlay of ₹28,840 crore.
Airport will improve connectivity in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Key Fact: The modified UDAN Scheme aims to develop 100 new airports across India.

Gujarat Launches New Data Centre Policy to Boost Investments

Gujarat launched the Data Centre Policy 2026–29.
Policy was unveiled by CM Bhupendra Patel.
Aims to make Gujarat a data centre hub.
Focuses on AI and cloud infrastructure.
Offers capital and interest subsidies.
Provides SGST and electricity duty reimbursements.
Includes stamp duty exemptions.
Simplifies approvals for investors.
Gujarat has 69 GW installed power capacity.
Nearly 47 GW comes from renewable energy.
Key Fact: India generates nearly 20% of global data but has only 3% of global data centre capacity.

International News

India, Kyrgyzstan Inaugurate Centre for Civilizational Studies in Bishkek

India and Kyrgyzstan inaugurated a new civilizational studies centre.
The centre is located in Bishkek.
Named “Manas and Mahabharata”.
Established by the Manas National Academy.
Developed in collaboration with CSIR, New Delhi.
Promotes comparative civilizational research.
Focuses on history, literature and philosophy.
Seven Kyrgyz universities signed cooperation agreements.
First Hindi translation of the Manas epic was released.
Strengthens India–Kyrgyzstan cultural ties.
Key Fact: The centre is dedicated to the study of the Mahabharata and Manas epics.

India, Australia Launch PACTS to Strengthen Technology Cooperation

India and Australia launched PACTS.
Announcement was made during the Third Annual Summit.
Summit was held in Melbourne.
PACTS focuses on cybersecurity cooperation.
Covers critical technologies and semiconductors.
Promotes resilient supply chains.
Encourages AI and digital resilience.
Includes defence research collaboration.
Supports technology commercialization.
ACITI partnership was also announced.
Key Fact: PACTS stands for Australia–India Partnership for Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains.

India, Australia Sign 18 Agreements to Expand Strategic Partnership

India and Australia signed 18 agreements.
Agreements were announced during the Third Annual Summit.
Covers defence and maritime security.
Includes clean energy cooperation.
Strengthens civil nuclear collaboration.
Expands cybersecurity partnerships.
Promotes education and research.
Includes mining and geoscience cooperation.
Australian universities will establish campuses in India.
Ancient Indian artefacts will be returned.
Key Fact: The summit resulted in 18 agreements and initiatives across multiple sectors.

India, Australia Deepen Strategic Partnership at Third Annual Summit

Third India–Australia Annual Summit held in Melbourne.
Leaders were PM Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese.
Reaffirmed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
Agreed to conclude the CECA.
Focused on trade and investment.
Expanded defence cooperation.
Strengthened critical technology collaboration.
Promoted renewable energy partnership.
Encouraged education and research cooperation.
Australia announced the return of ancient Indian artefacts.
Key Fact: CECA stands for Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

Banking News

Federal Bank Receives First Global Investment Grade Rating

Federal Bank received its first international issuer credit rating from S&P Global Ratings.
The bank secured a BBB-/Stable long-term rating.
It also received an A-3 short-term credit rating.
BBB- is the minimum investment-grade rating.
Rating reflects strong financial position and stable business performance.
S&P highlighted disciplined risk management and healthy capitalization.
Diversified funding profile strengthened the bank’s rating.
Rating improves access to international capital markets.
It is expected to enhance investor confidence and global credibility.
The achievement strengthens Federal Bank’s international financial presence.
Key Fact: S&P Global Ratings assigned BBB-/Stable (Long-term) and A-3 (Short-term) ratings.

World Bank Approves $890 Million for Rooftop Solar Programme

World Bank approved $890 million for PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
Funding supports India’s residential rooftop solar programme.
Package includes $820 million IBRD loan.
It also includes $60 million Clean Technology Fund loan.
An additional $10 million Livable Planet Fund grant is provided.
Scheme targets rooftop solar installation in 1 crore households.
Expected to mobilise $4.2 billion in private investment.
Around 1.7 million jobs are likely to be generated.
DISCOMs, banks and vendors will receive implementation support.
Initiative supports India’s clean energy and net-zero goals.
Key Fact: Total World Bank-led financing approved is $890 million.

Awards News

DoT’s Samriddh Gram Wins Prestigious WSIS Prize 2026

DoT won the WSIS Prize 2026.
Award was given for the Samriddh Gram initiative.
Programme is powered by the BharatNet project.
Award was presented at the WSIS Forum 2026 in Geneva.
It won under Action Line C6 – Enabling Environment.
Samriddh Gram establishes village-level Samriddhi Kendras.
Centres provide healthcare, education, agriculture and governance services.
BharatNet has connected over 2.17 lakh Gram Panchayats.
Project was recognised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
It emerged as the Global Winner after over 2.2 million votes.
Key Fact: Samriddh Gram won the WSIS Prize 2026 under Action Line C6.

Defense News

CSIR-NAL Completes Design of Indigenous Saras MkII Aircraft

CSIR-NAL completed the design of Saras MkII.
Design phase was completed on 8 July 2026.
Saras MkII is a 19-seater twin-turboprop aircraft.
Aircraft is designed to improve regional connectivity.
It can operate from smaller airports under the UDAN Scheme.
Features include glass cockpit, autopilot and digital avionics.
HAL will support manufacturing and metallic components.
Prototype manufacturing will begin after design completion.
Maiden test flight is scheduled for December 2027.
Indian Air Force has projected a requirement of 15 aircraft.
Key Fact: Saras MkII is India’s indigenous 19-seat light transport aircraft.

Sports News

Telangana to Host 8th Khelo India Youth Games 2026

Telangana will host the 8th Khelo India Youth Games 2026.
Announcement was made by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.
Games promote grassroots sports development.
Event is organised under the Khelo India Programme.
It aims to identify talented young athletes.
Thousands of athletes and officials are expected to participate.
Telangana was selected for its strong sports infrastructure.
Event will encourage youth participation in sports.
It is expected to boost sports tourism.
Games support India’s long-term sporting excellence.
Key Fact: Telangana is the host state for KIYG 2026.

Sourav Ganguly Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Sourav Ganguly entered the ICC Hall of Fame.
Induction took place on 8 July 2026.
He became the 12th Indian Hall of Fame inductee.
ICC Hall of Fame honours legendary retired cricketers.
Ganguly captained India to the 2003 World Cup Final.
He played 113 Test matches.
He also played 308 ODIs.
He mentored several future Indian stars.
Ganguly is popularly known as “Dada”.
His leadership transformed Indian cricket.
Key Fact: Sourav Ganguly became the 12th Indian in the ICC Hall of Fame.

Science & Technology News

IIT Madras, C-DAC to Manage National Bridge Monitoring Software

MoRTH has centralised the National Bridge Health Monitoring Software.
IIT Madras and C-DAC will jointly manage the software.
It supports the Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS).
BHMS uses sensors to monitor bridge health continuously.
Parameters tracked include stress, vibration, movement and load.
A separate Model RFP will be issued for sensor installation.
Pending projects will be re-tendered under the new system.
NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO and State PWDs will prepare a digital bridge inventory.
Nationwide bridge inventory must be completed by 30 September 2026.
The initiative aims to improve bridge safety and preventive maintenance.
Key Fact: IIT Madras and C-DAC will manage India’s National Bridge Health Monitoring Software.

Novo Nordisk Launches World’s First Weekly Diabetes Insulin

Novo Nordisk India launched Awiqli (insulin icodec).
It is the world’s first once-weekly basal insulin.
Designed for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Reduces injections from 365 to 52 per year.
Uses Novo Nordisk’s FlexTouch injection device.
Provides stable blood glucose control for one week.
Helps improve patient convenience and treatment adherence.
ONWARDS-1 trial showed better HbA1c reduction.
India has over 101 million people with diabetes.
The launch marks a major advancement in diabetes care.
Key Fact: Awiqli (insulin icodec) is the world’s first once-weekly basal insulin.

Scientists Use AI to Decode Sperm Whale Communication

Scientists used AI to study sperm whale communication.
Research identified 156 distinct codas.
Findings are part of Project CETI.
Project CETI was established in 2020.
The initiative is based in Dominica.
Study analysed recordings from about 400 sperm whales.
Data was collected between 2005 and 2018.
Research was published in Nature Communications.
Scientists proposed a “sperm whale phonetic alphabet.”
AI is helping decode complex animal communication.
Key Fact: Project CETI uses AI to study and decode sperm whale communication.

Schemes News

UP Nishulk Boring Yojana 2026 to Support Farmers

Uttar Pradesh will implement the UP Nishulk Boring Yojana 2026.
The scheme provides free agricultural borewell installation.
Farmers also receive subsidised pump sets up to 5 HP.
It mainly benefits small and marginal farmers.
The scheme was originally launched in 1985.
It aims to improve irrigation and reduce monsoon dependence.
SC/ST farmers are eligible under special provisions.
Applications can be submitted online.
Documents include Aadhaar, land records and bank passbook.
The scheme will improve farm productivity and rural livelihoods.
Key Fact: UP Nishulk Boring Yojana provides free borewell installation for eligible farmers.