India Hosts 16th BRICS Health Minister’s Meeting in Chandigarh , Adopts Health Ministerial Declaration
16th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa): Health minister’s meeting concluded in Chandigarh under India’s BRICS chairmanship 2026, providing a platform for member countries to deliberate on key health challenges and reaffirm their commitment to strengthening health systems, promoting innovation, enhancing pandemic preparedness, and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through sustained cooperation.
- The meeting concluded with the unanimous adoption of the ‘Health Ministerial Declaration’ as its key outcome.
- Theme: The meeting was conducted under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
DPIIT’s OEA Released Revised Series of Index of Core Industries with Base Year 2022-23
In July 2026, the Office of Economic Adviser (OEA), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) released the revised series of Index of Core Industries (ICI) with Base Year 2022-23, replacing the existing series of ICI with Base Year 2011- 12.
About ICI 2022-23:
Inclusion of Iron Ore: The revised ICI included iron ore in the list of core industries due to its intensive use in the production process, and contribution to industrial development, increasing the number of core industries to 09 from existing eight: coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity.
NRDC and NCISM Sign MoU to Commercialise Traditional Medicine Research
National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), a statutory body under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for promoting innovation, Intellectual Property (IP) management, technology transfer and commercialization of research outcomes in the Indian System of Medicine.
NIELIT and SCL Mohali Collaborate to Make Indigenous 1.2 µm Process Design Kit Available on eChipHub
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, Punjab to integrate and make India’s indigenous 1.2 micrometre(µm) Process Design Kit (PDK) available on the eChipHub platform.
Key Details of MoU:
Access: The initiative will provide students, researchers, faculty, startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and industry professionals with access to an indigenous semiconductor process technology for Integrated Circuit (IC) design and prototyping, promoting practical semiconductor design education and innovation.
Raghu Vamsi Aerospace to Set Up Rs 600 Crore Superalloy Manufacturing Facility in Telangana
Raghu Vamsi Aerospace Group announced an investment of over Rs 600 crore to establish an integrated nickel-based superalloy manufacturing facility in Telangana. The announcement was made during the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 in the United Kingdom (UK).
- The project aims to strengthen India’s domestic manufacturing capabilities for high-performance superalloys used in the aerospace, defence, energy and other strategic sectors, while reducing dependence on imports.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh Flags In First-Ever Tri-Service All-Women ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ Expedition
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), virtually flagged off ‘Samudra Pradakshina‘, India’s first-ever Tri-Service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition.
- Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, crewed by nine women officers from the Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF), successfully completed a 314-day global voyage covering nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans, arriving at Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About Samudra Pradakshina Expedition:
Flag-Off: The expedition was originally virtually flagged off by Union Minister Rajnath Singh on 11 September 2025 from the Gateway of India, Mumbai.
Global Circumnavigation: The IASV Triveni team crossed all meridians of longitude, the Equator twice, the International Date Line, and the Three Great Capes (Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and Cape of Good Hope).
PNB & AP Sign MoU to Establish India’s First Bank-Led Quantum Finance Hub
Punjab National Bank (PNB), an Indian public sector bank, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the PNB Quantum Finance Hub, India’s first bank-led Quantum Finance Hub at Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV), Amaravati, AP.
- With this collaboration, PNB became the first bank to join hands with a state government in setting up a dedicated Quantum Finance Facility.
SEBI Approves Carnelian Asset Management to Launch MF Business
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved Carnelian Asset Management & Advisors Private Limited to launch its Mutual Fund(MF) business, enabling the firm to offer active and passive equity, debt and hybrid mutual fund schemes to retail investors and expand its integrated wealth management platform.
About Approval for MF Business:
Approval: The approval enables Carnelian to expand beyond Portfolio Management Services (PMS), Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and offshore investment strategies by offering regulated mutual fund products.
Sona Comstar & DENSO Sign Agreements to Establish Two JVs for Electric and Hybrid Powertrain Systems
In July 2026, Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited (Sona Comstar) and Japan-based DENSO Corporation signed agreements to establish two Joint Ventures (JVs) in India for developing, manufacturing, and marketing advanced electric and hybrid powertrain systems for multiple vehicle segments.
Air India & Saudia Sign MoU to Strengthen Aviation Partnership
Air India and Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their strategic cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia.
- The MoU was signed by Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General (DG) of Saudia Group, and Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Managing Director (MD) of Air India.
Highlights of the MoU to Strengthen Aviation:
Objective: The partnership aims to provide passengers with improved connectivity, seamless transfers, greater travel flexibility, enhanced customer experience and wider destination choices.
Cooperation: The MoU adopts a phased approach to the partnership, beginning with the expansion of the existing codeshare agreement to provide passengers with access to a wider network through both airlines.
Key Areas: The airlines will enhance India–Saudi Arabia aviation connectivity by improving network connectivity, exploring terminal co-location, strengthening loyalty programme cooperation, extending collaboration to Air India Express and flyadeal, and providing passengers with greater flexibility and travel options.
DBS Named World’s Best Corporate Bank by Global Finance
DBS Bank Limited, a Singaporean multinational banking and financial services corporation, was awarded the World’s Best Corporate Bank at the 2026 Global Bank Awards by ‘Global Finance magazine’, becoming the first Southeast Asian bank to win this accolade since the category’s inception in 2005.
- DBS held the title of ‘Safest Bank’ in Asia by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years (2009–2025).
Harjit Singh Grewal Assumes Charge as Chairman of NCM
Harjit Singh Grewal assumed charge as the Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) for a three-year tenure, following his appointment by the Ministry of Minority Affairs(MoMA) under the NCM Act, 1992. He succeeded Iqbal Singh Lalpura, whose tenure ended in April 2025.
- With the induction of the new leadership, the National Commission for Minorities aims to further strengthen efforts towards justice, equality, empowerment and inclusive development.
DRDO Successfully Conducts Maiden Flight Test of ‘Kusha’ LR-SAM
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of ‘Kusha‘ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
- The missile system successfully intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat, demonstrating its precision and operational readiness.
DRDO’s GTRE Developed India’s First Indigenous 350 kg Thrust Class Expendable Turbojet Engine
Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), designed and developed India’s first indigenous 350 kg (kilogram) thrust class Expendable Turbojet Engine, with Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Azad Engineering, serving as the project’s industry partner for manufacturing and assembly.
- It was formally handed over by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rakesh Chopdar, Azad Engineering, to Dr K. Rajalakshmi Menon, Director General (DG) of Aeronautical Systems and Dr S.V. Ramanamurty, Director at GTRE.
China Launches Gravity-1 rocket from sea, sends 9 satellites into orbit
Chinese aerospace company Orienspace launched its Gravity-1 Y4 carrier rocket from a sea-based platform in the East China
Sea, placing 9 satellites into their designated orbits.
- This mission marked the rocket’s 3rd flight and 1st long-range sea launch.
Income Tax Day 2026 – July 24
Income Tax Day (Aaykar Diwas) is observed annually across India on 24 July to mark the introduction of Income Tax in 1860 by Sir James Wilson.
- 24 July 2026 marks the 167th anniversary of Income Tax Day (IT Day)
World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 – July 25
The United Nations (UN’s) World Drowning Prevention Day is observed annually across the world on 25 July to highlight the global impact of drowning, promote life-saving prevention measures and encourage coordinated action for water safety.
- 2026 marks the 6th observance of World Drowning Prevention Day.
2026 Theme: “Unite to Turn the Tide on Drowning”
VTU, Google Enter Academic Agreement to Boost AI Skills and Campus Placements
Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bengaluru(Karnataka) signed an academic collaboration agreement with Google LLC to provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other industry-relevant skill modules to students and faculty of VTU.
- The agreement was signed by Dr S. Vidyashankar, Vice-Chancellor, VTU, and Sanjay Jain, Head of Google for Education, India in Bengaluru.
- VTU has also entered into similar collaborations with Qualcomm, and Bharat Skills Foundation.