Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 24&25 July, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
24&25 July , 2026

National Affairs

1. ICMM Global Mining and Metals Water Dataset Report

Source: Down To Earth (DTE)

Context

The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) released its Global Mining and Metals Water Dataset and report on 22 July 2026 from London. Nearly two-thirds of global mining and metals facilities face significant physical water risk — from drought and floods to baseline water stress.

Key Facts

What It Is

• The first comprehensive, cross-commodity global assessment of the mining and metals sector’s exposure to water risk.
• Draws on ICMM’s updated Global Mining Dataset (v1.5) of 12,000 facilities — mines, smelters, refineries and plants — across 148 countries and regions.
• Produced in partnership with the WWF Water Risk Team and the World Resources Institute (WRI).

Five Physical Water Risk Indicators Assessed

• Floods, droughts, baseline water stress, baseline water depletion, and interannual variability.

Key Findings

• Baseline Water Stress: 38% of mining facilities face severe water stress; 27% also experience high water depletion.
• Drought Risk: 27% of global sites are drought-prone; Africa and the Middle East are the most affected (80.7%).
• Flood Risk: Highest in processing activities—steel (27%), alumina refining (27%), molybdenum (25%), aluminium smelting (24%).
• Interannual Variability: 16% of facilities face unstable annual water supply; Oceania is the worst affected (74%, Australia 79%).
• Compound Risk: 5% of facilities face three or more water risks simultaneously, mainly in Chile, Peru, central India, southern Africa, and western Australia.
• Critical Minerals: Platinum Group Elements (74% drought risk), manganese (21% compound risk), and copper (9% compound risk) are highly exposed.

How Mining Impacts Water Resources

• Massive volumetric withdrawals for mineral processing, dust suppression, slurry transport and equipment cooling, competing directly with local communities.
• Aquifer depletion — intensive groundwater pumping for mine dewatering lowers regional water tables, causing consumptive loss where water is not returned to the basin.
• Effluent and tailings contamination — tailings storage facilities and unmanaged mine drainage release heavy metals and processing chemicals into river catchments.
• Modification of hydrological flows — pit excavation and land clearing alter catchment run-off, increasing soil erosion and flash flooding.

Implications of Water Risk

• A binding constraint on the clean energy transition — shortages threaten supply bottlenecks for copper, lithium, nickel and rare earths, slowing solar, wind and EV battery production.
• Supply chain disruption and price volatility — droughts forcing operational halts and floods destroying pit infrastructure trigger metal price spikes.
• Social conflict and loss of licence to operate — competition between miners, farmers and rural communities in stressed catchments sparks unrest.
• Financial and stranded asset risk — regulatory fines, higher capex for alternative water sourcing, or assets rendered unviable.

Recommendations

• Integrated catchment-based water stewardship — shift from site-level management to collaborative catchment-scale frameworks covering communities, agriculture and ecosystems.
• Integrate long-term water risk into energy policy — governments and investors must factor water constraints into critical mineral and renewable energy planning.
• Invest in low-quality and alternative water technologies — recycling, closed-loop processing and seawater use, as with direct ocean water piping at Chile’s Minera Centinela.
• Proactive land and water planning — regulators to set water allocation priorities and environmental flow thresholds before issuing concessions in high-stress basins.
• Facility-level data transparency — public reporting of withdrawals, consumption and discharge to enable accurate site-level benchmarks.

India Angle

• Central India is flagged as a compound water-risk hotspot — relevant to the mineral belt spanning Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
• Directly relevant to India’s National Critical Mineral Mission (2025), offshore and deep-sea mining plans, and the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 which opened lithium and other critical minerals to private auction.

2. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 Report

Source: WHO

Context

The SOFI 2026 report was jointly published by FAO, WFP, IFAD, UNICEF and WHO and released on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. Its theme is “Understanding and Addressing the High Cost of a Healthy Diet”, evaluating cost drivers of Healthy Diet Baskets (HDB).

Key Facts

What the Report Is

• The UN system’s annual flagship assessment tracking progress toward ending hunger (SDG Target 2.1) and all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2).
• Published jointly by five UN agencies; the 2026 edition also tracks global maternal and child nutrition targets.

Global Hunger Position

• 645 million people (7.8%) faced hunger in 2025, down from 8.1% in 2024 and 8.6% in 2022 — a fall of nearly 14 million from 2024 and 43 million from 2022.
• Decline concentrated in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean; Africa moved in the opposite direction.

Africa Overtakes Asia as Hunger Epicentre

• Africa: 309 million hungry (1 in 5, 20.0%) versus Asia: 292 million (6.0%).
• Latin America & Caribbean: 32 million (4.8%); Oceania: 3.7 million (8%).
• Africa’s rate actually fell from 20.3% (2024) to 20.0% (2025), but absolute numbers rose because population growth outpaced gains; 56.6% of Africans face moderate or severe food insecurity.

Unaffordability of Healthy Diets

• 2.69 billion people (32.7% globally) could not afford a healthy diet in 2025.
• In Africa the figure reaches 66.6%.

Nutrient-Dense Cost Disparities

• Animal-source foods, fruits and vegetables account for nearly 70% of the total cost of a healthy diet.
• Starchy staples contribute only about one-sixth of the cost despite supplying half the calories.

Poor Minimum Dietary Diversity

• Only 30.8% of children aged 6–23 months achieved minimum dietary diversity.
• Only 62.7% of women aged 15–49 achieved it globally.

Off Track for Zero Hunger 2030

• 510–520 million people may still face hunger in 2030 — against a pre-conflict projection of 503 million — with food inflation driven by higher energy and fertiliser prices.
• 56% of those still hungry in 2030 are projected to be in Africa.
• Weather extremes such as El Niño in 2026 and 2027 are not factored into these projections and could worsen them.

Women’s Health and Adult Obesity

• Anaemia among women aged 15–49 worsened to 30.7%.
• Adult obesity rose from 12.1% (2012) to 16.2% (2024) — the double burden of malnutrition.

Urban–Rural Gap

• Food insecurity: rural 29.7% > peri-urban 25.4% > urban 22.3%.

India-Specific Findings

• Driver of regional progress: Southern Asia’s undernourishment fell from 13.9% (2021) to 9.3% (2025), largely propelled by improvements in India.
• Decisive in global affordability data: excluding India from the lower-middle-income group flips the trend of people unable to afford a healthy diet from a decrease to an increase.
• On track for child nutrition: India contributes to Southern Asia meeting 2030 targets on stunting reduction and halting child overweight.
• Persistent maternal anaemia: India faces major hurdles meeting the 50% anaemia reduction target for women of reproductive age.
• Diet cost sensitivity: price swings in non-staples (vegetables, fruits) disproportionately raise daily healthy-diet cost across South Asian markets.

Key Challenges Identified

• Geopolitical and energy shocks: the 2026 West Asian conflict disrupted oil, gas and fertiliser supply chains, raising input costs. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to push up global food prices.
• High post-farmgate costs: logistics, transport and processing account for 70–75% of consumer food costs, hitting perishables hardest.
• Distorted subsidies: about 70% of global agricultural support goes to staple grains, sugar and livestock, neglecting fruits, vegetables and legumes.
• Climate extremes and infrastructure deficits: weak cold chains and poor rural roads cause post-harvest losses and seasonal price spikes.
• Funding cuts: the US terminated roughly 90% of its foreign aid contracts in early 2025, including $1.4 billion in emergency nutrition funding; over 13 million children in West and Central Africa are projected to suffer malnutrition in 2026.

Recommendations

• Repurpose agricultural subsidies from staple mono-cropping toward fruits, vegetables, pulses and legumes.
• Invest in midstream value chains — cold storage, rural transport, processing, energy-efficient logistics.
• Reorient agricultural R&D toward high-value non-staple crops for yield and climate resilience.
• Strengthen data and social protection — institutionalise national monitoring of the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) and expand nutrition-sensitive cash transfers.

3. BHAVYA – Rasayan Scheme (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana – Rasayan)

Source: PIB

Context

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan (BHAVYA – Rasayan) Scheme on 24 July 2026 to establish three dedicated Chemical Parks with an outlay of ₹3,030 crore.The scheme was announced in the Union Budget of FY 2026–27 and will run for five years, FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31.

What It Is

• A central sector industrial park development scheme for chemical and petrochemical manufacturing.
• Funds common infrastructure facilities and basic utilities rather than individual plants.

Implementing Ministry

• Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Financial Allocation

• Total outlay ₹3,030 crore — ₹3,000 crore for common infrastructure facilities and basic utilities, ₹30 crore for administrative expenditure.

Central Grant and State Funding Pattern

• Centre provides a grant of up to ₹1,000 crore per park, subject to a minimum contribution of ₹500 crore by the concerned State Government.

Selection via Challenge Route

• The Centre facilitates development of the three parks by State Governments under the Challenge Route — a competitive evaluation of state-proposed sites.

Minimum Land Norms

• Each park must have a minimum contiguous area of 8 sq. km (minimum 2,000 acres) of encumbrance-free land.

Relation to the Parent BHAVYA Scheme

• The umbrella Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) was approved in March 2026 to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks with an allocation of ₹33,660 crore, offering support of up to ₹1 crore per acre for parks of 100–1,000 acres.
• BHAVYA – Rasayan is the chemicals-specific vertical of that broader industrial park framework, with far larger land parcels because chemical clusters need scale and buffer zones.

4. Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM)

Source: Times of India

Context

DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) on 23 July 2026 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The test was conducted against an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat, which was successfully intercepted.

What It Is

• Project Kusha is India’s indigenously developed long-range air defence missile system.
• Often described as India’s indigenous answer to the Russian S-400 Triumf.
• A fully automated, scalable surface-to-air missile ecosystem to detect, track and destroy aerial threats at standoff distances.

Developing Organisation

• R&D lead: DRDO, with public and private defence industry partners.
• Testing oversight: Ministry of Defence, through the Integrated Test Range (ITR) infrastructure in Odisha.
• The launch was monitored by Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Aim

• Build a scalable, multi-layered national air defence shield aligned with the integrated “Sudarshan Chakra” national air umbrella vision.
• Protect critical civilian and strategic assets while eliminating reliance on foreign air defence imports.

Three-Tiered Interceptor Family

• M1 variant: engagement range up to 150 km
• M2 variant: engagement range up to 250 km
• M3 variant: extended engagement range up to 350 km

Fully Integrated Indigenous Subsystems

• Locally developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars.
• Command and control centres and automated battle management software.
• High-precision missile seekers.

5. Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

Source: Mint

Context

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved a draft Bill on 24 July 2026 to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The amendments raise the minimum punishment from 3 years to 5 years, the maximum imprisonment to 10 years, and the maximum fine to ₹10 crore.

What the Parent Act Is

• India’s first dedicated central law to curb paper leaks, cheating and organised malpractice in national recruitment and entrance examinations.
• Passed by Parliament in February 2024 and brought into effect on 21 June 2024.
• Introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Personnel.

Aim

• Deter organised syndicates, cheating networks and rogue service providers from compromising examination integrity.
• Protect a transparent, merit-based selection process for millions of aspirants.
• Importantly, the Act targets organised gangs and institutions acting for monetary gain; ordinary candidate misconduct in the exam hall continues to be handled under the examination body’s own rules.

Comprehensive Definition of Unfair Means

• Leakage of question paper or answer key; unauthorised assistance to a candidate; tampering with a computer network, resource or system; creating fake websites for cheating or monetary gain; conducting fake examinations or issuing fake admit cards/offer letters; and manipulation of seating arrangements, dates and shifts to facilitate unfair means.
• Also covers falsification of merit lists and documents.

Penalty Structure Under the 2024 Act

• Section 10 — Individuals resorting to unfair means: imprisonment of 3 to 5 years and fine up to ₹10 lakh.
• Section 11 — Organised crime: imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and a fine of at least ₹1 crore.
• Service providers: fine up to ₹1 crore, recovery of proportionate examination cost, and a 4-year bar from any responsibility in conducting public examinations.
• Management liability: directors, senior managers or persons-in-charge who consent to or connive in cheating face 3 to 10 years imprisonment and a ₹1 crore fine.
• Property attachment and forfeiture for institutions and coaching centres found guilty of organised cheating, plus full cost recovery for re-conducting cancelled exams.

Procedural Features

• All offences are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
• Investigation must be by an officer not below the rank of DSP or ACP.
• The Central Government may transfer any case to a central agency such as the CBI.

What the 2026 Amendments Propose

• Minimum penalty for individual offenders raised to 5 years, with a three-month deadline for completing investigations.
• Organised paper leaks to attract up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹10 crore.
• Statutory backing for fast-track courts and time-bound trials.
• A special fast-track court at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has already been designated for paper-leak trials under the Act.
• The Delhi Police has constituted a Special Task Force (STF) in the Crime Branch to investigate paper leaks.

6. Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) Expands to 90 Members

Context

The Minister of State for Communications announced that the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) has expanded its membership to 90 organisations. B6GA is an industry-led, government-facilitated platform to position India as a global leader in 6G.

What It Is

• An industry-led, government-facilitated collaborative platform bringing together domestic and international stakeholders.
• Drives research, intellectual property creation and standard-setting for next-generation networks.
• Established in July 2023, flowing from the Bharat 6G Vision unveiled by the Prime Minister in March 2023.

Nodal Support

• Facilitated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications.

Aim

• Drive indigenous 6G R&D toward a self-reliant (Atmanirbhar), globally competitive 6G ecosystem.
• Ensure India’s technological, manufacturing and IP priorities are embedded into global 6G standards.

Global Strategic Partners (Bilateral MoUs)

• NextG Alliance (USA)
• 6G-IA (Europe)
• 6G Forum (South Korea)
• XGMF (Japan)
• 6G Brasil
• European Space Agency (ESA)

7. PM-YASASVI (Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India)

Source: PIB

Context

The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged students through PM-YASASVI. The statement highlighted both scholarship support and hostel infrastructure for socially and educationally backward youth.

What It Is

• A comprehensive umbrella scheme implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Unifies scholarship support and residential hostel infrastructure for socially and educationally backward youth across India.

Origin and Evolution

• The hostel construction component originated in 1998–99 to address educational backwardness among OBC youth, with a major revision in 2017–18.
• Later restructured into the present PM-YASASVI umbrella framework, covering assistance from school level through top-tier college education.

Aim

• Eliminate financial constraints and geographical barriers for students from rural and economically weaker sections.
• Ensure equitable access to secondary and higher education through scholarships and quality hostel facilities.

Target Beneficiaries and Eligibility

• Open to Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT).
• Applicants must be listed in Central/State/UT OBC lists and fall strictly outside the creamy layer.
• Annual family income ceiling: ₹2.50 lakh.
• Selection for top-class components is through the YASASVI Entrance Test (YET) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Applications are made through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), with funds transferred by DBT into Aadhaar-seeded accounts.

Four-Tiered Scholarship Structure

• Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme (Classes 9–10).
• Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme (post-secondary stage).
• Top Class Education in Schools Scheme.
• Top Class Education in Colleges Scheme.
• Under the Top Class School component, Class 9–10 students receive up to ₹75,000 per annum and Class 11–12 up to ₹1,25,000 per annum, covering tuition and hostel expenses.

Banking/Finance

1. Updated Index of Core Industries (ICI)

Source: The Hindu

Context

The Government of India released the updated Index of Core Industries (ICI) with a new base year of 2022–23, replacing the earlier 2011–12 series.

About Index of Core Industries (ICI)

What is it?

• A monthly production index that measures the performance of India’s core infrastructure industries.
• Acts as a lead indicator for the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Published By

• Office of Economic Adviser (OEA)
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
• Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Objective

• Reflect current industrial and economic conditions.
• Align with updated GDP, GVA, CPI, and IIP series.
• Improve the accuracy of industrial growth measurement.

Key Changes

• Base Year: Updated from 2011–12 to 2022–23 = 100.
• Number of Core Industries: Increased from 8 to 9 with the addition of Iron Ore.
• Iron Ore Weight: 4.905%.
• Steel: Uses gross steel production instead of net production.
• Coal: Measures only raw coal production to avoid double counting.

Revised Sector Weights

• Electricity: 30.932% (Highest)
• Refinery Products: 22.572%
• Steel
• Cement
• Coal: 5.596%
• Iron Ore: 4.905%
• Natural Gas: 3.841%
• Fertilizers: 2.731%
• Crude Oil

Nine Core Industries

• Coal
• Crude Oil
• Natural Gas
• Refinery Products
• Fertilizers
• Steel
• Cement
• Electricity
• Iron Ore (Newly Added)

2. Offline UPI Payment (NFC-based Tap-and-Pay)

Source: Business Standard (Editorial)

Context

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is developing an offline NFC-based Tap-and-Pay UPI feature, enabling users to make UPI payments up to ₹2,000 without internet connectivity.

What is the New Feature?

• Allows offline UPI payments using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.
• Users can make payments by tapping NFC-enabled devices.
• No need to scan a QR code.
• Payments can be made by capturing the recipient’s UPI ID or Virtual Payment Address (VPA).
• Transaction limit: Up to ₹2,000 without internet.

Technology Used

• NFC (Near Field Communication): A short-range wireless communication technology that enables contactless payments.
• UPI ID / VPA: Unique payment address linked to a bank account.

Background

• Builds upon earlier initiatives such as UPI Lite X.
• Aims to bridge the gap between UPI payments and contactless card payments.

Agriculture

1. Mission Golden Spice — Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Project

Source: News on Air

Context

Union Minister for Communications and DoNER Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, with Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma, launched “Mission Golden Spice – Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project”, a ₹175.45-crore convergence-led initiative, on 21 July 2026 at Sanchar Bhavan, New Delhi. It is a five-year (2025–2030) phased roadmap to build a farm-to-global-market ecosystem for Meghalaya’s GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric.

What It Is

• Officially the Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project.
• A five-year phased initiative to turn Lakadong turmeric into a globally competitive premium brand.
• Part of the Centre’s “Unlock the Economic Potential of India’s Northeast” (USP) initiative under the Ashtalakshmi strategy.

Organisations Involved

• Anchor bodies: MDoNER and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
• State implementation: Government of Meghalaya.
• Convergence partners: Ministries of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Food Processing Industries and Commerce, along with APEDA, Spices Board, National Turmeric Board, ICAR, MeitY, NABARD and SFAC.

Aim

• Double farmers’ earnings from ₹30–40/kg to ₹80/kg by 2030.
• Overcome post-harvest losses and end distress sales.
• Establish processing facilities and position Lakadong as a flagship export to the US, EU, Japan and Gulf countries.
• Build a ₹100-crore local value-chain economy by 2028–29.

Phased Roadmap (2025–2030)

• Phase 1 — Value Chain Strengthening: infrastructure, cold chains and processing.
• Phase 2 — Expansion & Scale-up: commercial expansion, branding and export scaling.

Multi-Agency Funding Model

• MDoNER/NEC: 50%
• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare: 33.1%
• Government of Meghalaya: 16.9%

Why Lakadong Is Special

• Curcumin content of 7–12%, nearly four times the global average — its core competitive advantage.
• Gained international visibility after being showcased by the Prime Minister at the G7 Summit.
• Grown mainly in Jaintia Hills, where soil and ecosystem give the crop its distinctive quality; it received the GI tag for Meghalaya.

Exam Relevance

• NABARD Grade A: Extremely high — direct subject matter; agri value chains, FPOs, cold chain finance, rural entrepreneurship, SFAC and NABARD’s own role.

2. Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa) — Sustainable Cultivation Breakthrough in Himachal

Source: The Hindu

Context

Farmers in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, have pioneered a sustainable, stolon-based cultivation and harvesting model for Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa). Kutki is an endangered high-altitude Himalayan medicinal herb, declared so because of over-exploitation from its natural habitat. The new model harvests only the lateral creeping stolons, leaving the mother rhizome intact to regenerate. This converts a destructively wild-harvested species into a multi-year perennial crop, aligning conservation with farmer income.

What It Is

• Botanical name Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth.; known in Ayurveda as Katuki or Katukarohini, and locally as Kadu.
• A creeping perennial medicinal herb of the family Scrophulariaceae (placed in Plantaginaceae under modern APG classification).
• The name derives from Greek “Picros” (bitter) and “Rhiza” (root), reflecting its intense bitterness.

Native Habitat and Distribution

• Found in the alpine Himalayan region from Kashmir to Sikkim at elevations of 2,700–4,500 metres above mean sea level.
• Prefers moist, rocky, north-west facing slopes with well-drained, porous sandy-clay soil that lets rhizomes spread horizontally.
• In India: Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Key Himachal habitats: Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti.
• Outside India: Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Tibet, western China and northern Myanmar.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Endangered — due to severe population decline from over-exploitation and destructive wild harvesting.
• CITES: Appendix II — international trade permitted only under strictly regulated export permits.
• Listed among the 37 top-priority species identified for conservation and cultivation in the Western Himalayas, owing to its narrow distribution range, small population size and high value.

Key Morphological Features

• Medicinal stolon vs non-medicinal fibrous root: the drug component resides in the stolon — a specialised horizontal stem creeping along the soil bearing nodes — while the fibrous roots carry no medicinal value.
• Forms low-growing mats through creeping underground rhizomes and aerial stolons.
• Bears a whorl of serrated leaves and white to pale purple flowers, flowering around June.

Bioactive Phytochemicals

• The active principle is kutkin, comprising kutkoside and the iridoid glycosides Picroside I and Picroside II, used in more than 2,000 herbal formulations.
• Also contains cucurbitacins, acetophenones, apocyanin and ferulic acid.
• The derived drug Picroliv is a well-known hepatoprotective extract.

The Non-Destructive Harvesting Breakthrough

• Traditional harvesting uproots the entire plant, which is why wild populations collapsed.
• The new model harvests only lateral creeping stolons, leaving the mother rhizome intact in the soil to regenerate continuously.
• When propagated through stolon cuttings, Kutki can be harvested in about 2–2.5 years, with harvest in September–October as the aerial parts wither.
• Stolon cuttings give faster multiplication and higher production than seed propagation.

Medicinal Significance

• A renowned Ayurvedic liver tonic used for hepatitis, cirrhosis and other liver disorders; it promotes bile flow.
• A key ingredient in Arogyavardhani Vati.
• Used to manage chronic fever, diabetes, asthma, cough, digestive disorders and inflammatory skin diseases.
• In Ayurvedic terms, it balances Pitta and Kapha doshas.

Exam Relevance

• NABARD Grade A: Very high — direct subject matter; high-value crop diversification, NTFP, farmer producer organisations, medicinal plant financing.

Facts To Remember

1. MoC Releases ‘AAROH’, India’s First Scientific Mine Closure Report

The Ministry of Coal (MoC) released ‘AAROH: Annual Report on Mine Closure’, India’s first comprehensive report on scientific mine closure, ecological restoration, and post-mining land utilisation. Prepared by the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO), the report documents 42 scientifically closed coal mines, including 33 closed in the last year. During the event, Coal NEER Plants of Coal India Limited were virtually inaugurated, and a tripartite MoU was signed by BCCL, JRDA, Hindalco Industries, and Rajdhani Universal Fabrics.

2. India Emerges as Global Leader in Cotton Cultivation

The Government of India released a factsheet describing cotton as India’s “White Gold”, supporting the livelihoods of 6 million farmers and 40–50 million people in the textile value chain. India ranks 1st globally in cotton cultivation area (114.84 lakh hectares) and 2nd in both cotton production and consumption, contributing nearly 19% of global fibre production. The United States remains the largest destination for India’s cotton fabric exports.

3. DRDO Signs Contracts for AEW&C Mk-II Programme

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed two major contracts for the AEW&C Mk-II Programme to strengthen India’s airborne surveillance and air defence capabilities. The ₹19,000-crore programme, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), will convert six Airbus A321 aircraft into advanced airborne warning platforms with induction planned for 2032–33.

4. Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi Visits India

Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi visited India from 17–20 July 2026 to strengthen the India–Tanzania Strategic Partnership. The visit focused on cooperation in the blue economy, trade, tourism, health, education, and technology, while also unveiling the master plan of the IIT Madras Zanzibar campus, India’s first international IIT campus.

5. NCVET Recognises NIRDPR as Dual Awarding Body

The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) recognised the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) as a Dual Awarding Body, enabling it to assess, certify, and award NSQF-aligned qualifications. The initiative will strengthen rural skilling, entrepreneurship, and Panchayati Raj capacity building, with 107 Dual Awarding Bodies recognised as of July 2026.

6. BHASHINI Rajyam Promotes AI-Powered Multilingual Governance

The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Government of Goa organised the ‘BHASHINI Rajyam’ Workshop to promote AI-powered multilingual governance. The workshop showcased AI-based translation, speech recognition, transcription, and multilingual citizen services, while strengthening the Konkani language ecosystem.

7. NABARD Signs MoU with MAHAPREIT for Green Rural Infrastructure

NABARD signed an MoU with MAHAPREIT to jointly finance green, climate-resilient infrastructure across rural India, initially focusing on Maharashtra. Priority areas include renewable energy, Gram Panchayat infrastructure, biogas projects, solar-powered cold storage, and decarbonisation of public institutions, supporting the circular economy and rural sustainability.

8. Microsoft India and IIT Delhi Launch UNNATI AI 2.0

Microsoft India, in partnership with IIT Delhi’s FITT, launched UNNATI AI 2.0 to expand AI innovation, startup support, and AI skilling across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s AI talent pipeline and promote responsible AI solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture, and sustainability.

9. UN SOFI Report: Global Hunger Declines Slightly in 2025

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released the SOFI 2026 Report, estimating that 645 million people (7.8% of the global population) faced hunger in 2025, a slight improvement over the previous year. However, the world remains off track to achieve SDG-2 (Zero Hunger by 2030), with Africa replacing Asia as the region with the highest number of undernourished people.

10. EbixCash Becomes India’s First AD-II Entity for Trade Remittances

EbixCash World Money Limited became India’s first Authorised Dealer Category-II (AD-II) entity to receive RBI approval for offering trade remittances and family maintenance remittances. The licence enables trade remittances of up to ₹25 lakh per transaction and provides greater support to MSME importers and exporters.

11. EnKash Launches India’s First UPI-Enabled Meal Card

EnKash launched India’s first UPI-enabled meal card, allowing employees to make payments by scanning eligible UPI QR codes directly from their meal balance. The initiative provides tax-saving benefits while expanding the use of digital employee benefit solutions.

12. ICRA Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.4–6.6% in Q1 FY27

ICRA projected India’s real GDP growth at 6.4–6.6% for Q1 FY27, supported by strong industrial activity, infrastructure growth, and improved high-frequency indicators. Despite higher energy prices and input cost pressures, the report indicates continued economic momentum.

13. Paras Semiconductors to Set Up ₹6,200-Crore OSAT Facility in MP

Paras Semiconductors signed an MoU with MPSeDC to establish a ₹6,200-crore Greenfield OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) facility in Madhya Pradesh. The project will strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem, support the India Semiconductor Mission, and manufacture advanced semiconductor packages for strategic applications.

14. Anurag Jain Appointed CEO of NITI Aayog

The Government of India appointed Anurag Jain, a 1989-batch IAS officer, as the new CEO of NITI Aayog for a two-year tenure. He succeeds Nidhi Chhibber, who had been holding the additional charge, and will lead policy formulation, governance reforms, and long-term development planning.

15. RBI Approves Areion Group’s Acquisition of Aviom India Housing Finance

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Areion Group’s ₹936-crore acquisition of Aviom India Housing Finance as part of its Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). The acquisition is expected to provide lenders with an estimated 65% recovery, subject to final approval by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

16. India Bids to Host 2029 World Ability sport Games

The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) signed an MoU to jointly bid for hosting the 2029 World Abilitysport Games. Chennai and Bhubaneswar are under consideration as host cities for the international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities.

17. National Flag Adoption Day Observed on 22 July

National Flag Adoption Day is observed every year on 22 July to commemorate the adoption of the Indian National Flag (Tiranga) by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947. The 2026 observance marks the 79th anniversary, celebrating the Tiranga as a symbol of freedom, justice, liberty, and equality.

18. National Broadcasting Day Observed on 23 July

National Broadcasting Day is observed annually on 23 July to commemorate India’s first organised radio broadcast by the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) in 1927. The year 2026 marks the 99th anniversary of organised radio broadcasting in India, highlighting its role in public communication, education, and cultural preservation.

19. India Approves First Dengue Vaccine Qdenga

India has approved Qdenga, the country’s first dengue vaccine, developed by Takeda (Japan) and already licensed in over 40 countries with WHO prequalification. The vaccine protects against all four dengue virus serotypes and can be administered without prior dengue screening, unlike Dengvaxia. However, it requires two doses three months apart, has relatively lower protection against DENV-3 and DENV-4 in dengue-naïve individuals, and concerns remain over affordability and ensuring complete vaccination coverage among high-risk populations.

20. US Imposes 10% Section 301 Tariff on Indian Goods

The United States imposed a 10% Section 301 tariff on Indian goods from 24 July 2026, citing inadequate enforcement against forced labour in supply chains. India was shifted from the proposed 12.5% tariff to the 10% bracket after the DGFT amended the Foreign Trade Policy (13 July 2026) to prohibit imports made using forced labour and due to progress in implementing the four Labour Codes. While FIEO viewed the lower tariff as a competitive advantage over countries facing 12.5% tariffs, the gems & jewellery and textile industries expressed concerns over profit margins, reputational risks, and export competitiveness.