Updates on 10 July 2026
All of July 2026 →Delhi to Make Pink Saheli Smart Card Mandatory for Free Bus Travel from August 1, 2026
Delhi will enforce the Pink Saheli Smart Card as mandatory for women and transgender commuters to avail free bus travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses starting August 1, 2026. The initiative replaces previously issued pink paper tickets, which will be valid only until July 31, 2026. The card integrates with the National Common Mobility Card system under the Centre’s One Nation, One Card framework and requires applicants to be Delhi residents aged 12 years and above with an Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Over 840,000 cards had been issued by May 18, 2026. The Delhi government allocated Rs 450 crore in the 2026–27 budget to support this digital-enabled free travel scheme.
India Launches Hydrogen Fuel Transport Pilot on 10 Routes under National Green Hydrogen Mission
On 26 March 2025, India initiated pilot trials for hydrogen fuel transport on ten key routes under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The project involves 37 hydrogen-powered buses and trucks, employing both fuel cells and hydrogen internal combustion engines, with participation from prominent industry players like Tata Motors and Reliance Industries. Nine hydrogen refuelling stations will support these routes. This initiative is part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aimed at promoting sustainable hydrogen use in transport, aligning with India’s green energy goals.
ICMR to Set Up India's First High Altitude Medicine Centre in Himachal Pradesh
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is setting up India's first dedicated Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong, Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh. The multidisciplinary centre will focus on altitude physiology, mountain medicine, climate-sensitive diseases, infectious and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, mental and occupational health, and disaster medicine. Utilizing advanced digital health technologies including telemedicine and drone-based medicine delivery, the centre aims to overcome geographic remoteness and provide real-time disease surveillance. It will collaborate with Defence organizations, state government, and academic bodies to enhance research and healthcare delivery in high-altitude regions.
RBI launches three key household surveys for monetary policy inputs
On 9 July 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiated three important household surveys: the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households, the Rural Consumer Confidence Survey, and the Urban Consumer Confidence Survey. These surveys collect data on inflation outlook, consumer confidence, employment, income, and spending patterns across urban and rural India. Covering 19 cities and all states and union territories, they provide crucial inputs to the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) ahead of its 3-5 August 2026 meeting.
ISRO Clears CE20 Cryogenic Engine for LVM3-M7 Mission
On 6 July 2026, ISRO successfully conducted a flight acceptance hot test of the CE20 cryogenic engine at its Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The CE20 is the upper-stage cryogenic engine for India's heavy-lift LVM3 launch vehicle, slated for use in the seventh operational mission, LVM3-M7. The test featured the first use of a newly developed Nozzle Protection System under simulated high-altitude conditions. Having flown in eight prior LVM3 missions including Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3, the CE20 engine also meets human-rating standards required for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. This milestone is crucial for preparing the engine for upcoming orbital and crewed missions.
Great Indian Bustard Chick Survives in Gujarat Using Innovative Conservation Techniques
The critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, primarily found in Rajasthan, has seen a survival milestone in Gujarat where a chick hatched through the “jumpstart” technique survived beyond 40 days after hatching on 21 May 2026. This method involves incubating eggs from captive-bred birds under wild females to overcome infertility issues. The species, with fewer than 150 wild birds, is the state bird of Rajasthan and protected under Indian law. Conservation efforts include breeding centres, artificial insemination, and rewilding programs involving multiple government bodies, aiming to revive this endangered bird population.
Tamil Nadu Tops India in Higher Education Gross Enrollment Ratio in 2023-24
According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24 report, Tamil Nadu achieved the highest Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 52.3% among Indian states in higher education for the 18-23 age group. This GER surpasses the national average of 30%, continuing Tamil Nadu’s trend of strong tertiary education participation. The state's female GER is notably higher than male GER, standing at 53.1% versus 51.6%. With over 35.8 lakh youths enrolled and a faculty strength representing 12.6% of India's total, Tamil Nadu remains a leader in educational access and quality.
World Bank Approves $890 Million for India's National Rooftop Solar Programme
On 9 and 10 July 2026, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved an $890 million financing package to support India’s PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, a flagship residential rooftop solar scheme targeting 10 million households across rural and urban India. The package comprises an $820 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a $60 million concessional loan from the Clean Technology Fund, and a $10 million grant from the Livable Planet Fund. This financing aims to enhance residential rooftop solar deployment, strengthen institutional capacity of distribution companies, banks, and vendors, and mobilize an additional $4.2 billion in private investment, thereby contributing to job creation and India’s broader energy and climate goals.
ONGC Approves 1.75 Million Metric Tonnes Expansion of Strategic Petroleum Reserve at Mangaluru
On 9 July 2026, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) granted in-principle approval for expanding India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 1.75 million metric tonnes at Mangaluru, Karnataka. This Phase-I extension strengthens India’s strategic crude oil storage capacity managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL), increasing total capacity beyond the existing 5.33 million metric tonnes across Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur. The expansion aims to enhance energy security amidst geopolitical disruptions such as the Iran conflict. ONGC became the first Indian public sector energy company to directly fund SPR infrastructure, aligning with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas's energy security planning.
28th Meeting of Reconstituted Wildlife Institute of India Society
The 28th Meeting of the reconstituted Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Society was held on 9 July 2026 at the Central Academy for State Forest Service (CaSFOS), Coimbatore. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, who is the President of the WII Society, presided over the meeting. The meeting was the first after the reconstitution of the Society for a three-year tenure from April 2026. It emphasized aligning WII's research, training, and policy-support framework with the national vision 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047', focusing on resolving human-wildlife conflict, technology-driven wildlife management, and capacity building. The Society approved an agenda for the institute’s scientific goals for the next three years. Key participants included WII Director and Member-Secretary Dr. G.S. Bhardwaj, Member of Parliament Atul Garg, and Gujarat State Minister for Forest and Environment Pravin Mali.
India Extends Anti-Dumping Duty on Seamless Tubes Till 2027
India has extended its anti-dumping duty on seamless tubes, pipes, and hollow profiles of iron, alloy, or non-alloy steel imported from China until 27 January 2027. The duty applies to products under Customs Tariff heading 7304. This extension follows a sunset review initiated in March 2026 by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). The anti-dumping duty was first imposed in 2017 and extended in 2021 to address injurious dumping and protect domestic manufacturers such as Jindal Saw, Kirloskar Ferrous, and Maharashtra Seamless.