Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 04 July, 2026

Digital India completed 11 years on 1 July 2026. Launched by Narendra Modi in 2015, the programme aims to build a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Its focus now includes Artificial Intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing.

The Ministry of Tourism signed an MoU with Google India to boost digital tourism promotion. The partnership will use AI, analytics, and digital platforms to enhance global visibility of Indian tourism. It supports the Incredible India initiative through technology-driven outreach.

Narendra Modi visited Seychelles from 27–29 June 2026. India and Seychelles signed 9 MoUs covering defence, healthcare, maritime cooperation, and digital payments. PM Modi also received Seychelles’ highest honour, “Guardian of the Blue Horizon.”

Bank of Baroda partnered with Mizuho Bank for M&A financing. The collaboration covers acquisition finance, co-underwriting, syndication, and advisory services. It strengthens cross-border financing capabilities.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) partnered with HSBC India and JP Morgan Payments. The collaboration enables real-time forex settlement for cross-border UPI transactions. It improves speed, transparency, and payment efficiency for global users.

Himachal Pradesh received eight new Geographical Indication tags, taking its total GI products to 17. Newly tagged products include Kinnauri Apple, Seabuckthorn, and Chamba Metal Art. The recognition boosts traditional products and rural livelihoods.

HDFC Bank appointed Rajiv Kumar as part-time Chairman for three years. He succeeds Keki Mistry. He has also been appointed Additional Independent Director.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Ravi Shankar as Executive Director from 1 July 2026. He will head the Department of Statistics and Information Management. He brings over 30 years of central banking experience.

Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved two major deals. These include DWS Group’s stake acquisition in Nippon Life India AIF and Aditya Birla-led acquisition of RCB. The approvals strengthen India’s asset management and sports sectors.

Kotak Mahindra Bank will acquire Deutsche Bank India retail and wealth business for ₹281.7 crore. The acquisition includes loans, deposits, and assets under management. It strengthens Kotak’s affluent banking segment.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) signed a deal to acquire 40% stake in Tiki Tar–Shell India JV. The ₹85 crore acquisition boosts BPCL’s bitumen and road materials business. It will make BPCL an equal joint venture partner.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched ATS 4.0 in Kolkata. The summit marked the 111th Foundation Day of Zoological Survey of India. New biodiversity records and annual discovery reports were released.

Madan Mohan Lakhera passed away at 88. He served as Governor of Mizoram and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. He was decorated with PVSM, AVSM, and VSM for military service.

Puviyarasu passed away at 96 in Coimbatore. He authored over 120 books and translated global literary works into Tamil. He was a two-time Sahitya Akademi Award winner.

GST Day is observed annually in India on 1 July. The day marks the rollout of Goods and Services Tax in 2017. GST taxpayers increased from 66.5 lakh to 1.65 crore by 2026.

World Sports Journalists Day is observed on 2 July. It honors sports journalists for promoting fair and quality sports reporting. The day commemorates the founding of International Sports Press Association in 1924.

Biswanath Sinha assumed charge as Chief Secretary of Kerala. He succeeds Dr. A. Jayathilak. His tenure will continue until September 2028.

Mylswamy Annadurai was appointed Chairman of Tamil Nadu’s Curriculum Design Committee. He will lead curriculum modernization for 1.3 crore students. The initiative focuses on AI, science, and critical thinking.

Here are the news items converted into your preferred format with serial numbers continuing from 19, one-line headings, and 3-line concise descriptions:

Narendra Modi dedicated India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Balotra. He also inaugurated the new terminal building of Jodhpur Airport. Development projects worth ₹1.06 lakh crore across energy, transport, and infrastructure were launched.

Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the 7th National Water Awards on the Rashtriya Puraskar portal. The awards aim to encourage water conservation, efficient water management, and public participation. They recognize individuals, institutions, and states for best water practices.

Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled India’s first export-import shipping container manufactured in Dadri. The container was built for A.P. Moller–Maersk. The initiative strengthens India’s manufacturing and global shipping capabilities.

Jitendra Singh inaugurated the third batch of the DAKSH leadership programme. The programme focuses on strengthening leadership, governance, and administrative capacity among public officials. It promotes the Whole-of-Government approach through institutional collaboration.