Updates on 11 July 2026
All of July 2026 →Indian Army to Induct 450 Carl Gustaf M4 Rocket Launchers
The Indian Army issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in July 2026 for procuring 450 Carl Gustaf Mark-IV (M4) 84mm lightweight rocket launchers to modernize its infantry capabilities. The M4 variant is lighter than previous M2 and M3 models, enhancing infantry mobility. Production is planned at Saab’s facility in Reliance MET City, Jhajjar, Haryana, which is India’s first fully foreign-owned defence manufacturing unit with 100% Foreign Direct Investment approved. Production began in 2024, with deliveries expected within 12 months of contract signing, supported by 15 years of product support and a 24-month warranty. The system is operational between -20°C and +50°C, suitable for deployment in the Himalayas and desert regions like Rajasthan.
NSE Launches Nifty500 Ahimsa Index Promoting Ethical and Non-Violent Business Practices
On 10 July 2026, NSE Indices Limited, a National Stock Exchange subsidiary, launched the Nifty500 Ahimsa Index. This thematic index selects companies from the Nifty 500 universe adhering to non-violence (Ahimsa) principles, excluding firms involved in activities harmful to animals. It uses free-float market capitalisation for weighting and was developed with the Ahimsagain Foundation’s framework that categorises companies into Green, Orange, and Red bands. Companies in Orange and Red bands are excluded. Reconstituted semi-annually, this index aims to benchmark asset managers and support ethical passive investments like ETFs and index funds.
NPPA Fixes Retail Prices for 39 New Drug Formulations
On 8 July 2026, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixed retail prices for 39 new drug formulations under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. These medicines address conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, HIV, heart disease, cancer, neurological disorders, eye infections, pain management, epilepsy, and vitamin deficiencies. Notably, Tenecteplase (TNK-tPA) injection, a thrombolytic clot-busting medicine, was fixed at Rs 60,238.27 per vial. A combination tablet containing Amlodipine, Bisoprolol, and Telmisartan used for hypertension was fixed at Rs 14.74 per tablet. The price fixation aims to regulate drug costs and enhance affordability, with compliance monitored under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
FSSAI Issues Nine Notices to Swiggy Instamart Over Food Safety Complaints
On 11 July 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart following consumer complaints concerning expired, spoiled, contaminated, and unsafe food items sold through the platform. Products flagged included expired whey protein, rotten Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs with a foul smell, contaminated infant formula, spoiled milk products, and damaged packaged food items. The FSSAI demanded detailed explanations, compliance documents, and evidence of quality assurance, storage, hygiene, and internal controls, warning of possible legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 in case of unsatisfactory response. This move highlights regulatory vigilance over quick-commerce platforms delivering food rapidly via digital means.
Indian Potash and Jain Irrigation Sign MoU for Drip Irrigation in Gujarat
On 8 July 2026, Indian Potash Limited and Jain Irrigation Systems Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding for implementing drip irrigation systems in Gujarat's sugarcane cultivation. Drip irrigation, a water-efficient micro irrigation technique, will be deployed along with fertigation to enhance water and fertiliser use efficiency. The agreement includes survey, design, installation, training, and farmer support services, targeting irrigation-intensive sugarcane farming regions in Gujarat. This move supports sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and crop yield improvement in a vital agro-economy.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Crosses 93.95 Crore Health Accounts
As of 10 July 2026, India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) achieved a significant milestone by creating over 93.95 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers and linking more than 105 crore digital health records. ABDM aims to create a unified national digital health ecosystem featuring interoperable health records and unique digital health IDs, enabling consent-based sharing of patient data across healthcare providers. Over 5.33 lakh health facilities and 9.85 lakh healthcare professionals are registered on ABDM digital platforms, with adoption increasing through 2.72 lakh facilities using ABDM-enabled software for efficient outpatient registration.
Union Health Ministry Tightens Rules for Alcohol-Based Drug Formulations
On 10 July 2026, the Indian Union Health Ministry amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, to regulate medicinal products containing high levels of ethyl alcohol. The amendment removes exemptions under Schedule K for alcohol-based preparations exceeding 12% v/v ethyl alcohol and 30 ml quantity, bringing them under Schedule H1 licensing and prescription controls. This was done to address misuse of such drugs for intoxication. The changes align alcohol content limits with Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani (up to 16%) and Homeopathic (up to 12%) medicines. The rules will come into effect around January 2027, six months after Gazette notification.
NABARD Facilitates GI Registration for 28 New Indian Products
On 10 July 2026, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) facilitated the Geographical Indication (GI) registration of 28 new products from across India, increasing the total number of GI products supported by NABARD to 176. These registered products include traditional handicrafts, handloom textiles, bamboo crafts, metalwork, pottery, paintings, and musical instruments from various states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
India and New Zealand Elevate Relations to Strategic Partnership with Ambitious Trade Target
On 11 July 2026, India and New Zealand upgraded their diplomatic ties to a strategic partnership, aiming to double bilateral trade in goods and services to ₹35,000 crore (NZ$7 billion) by 2030. This milestone was marked during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to New Zealand, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years. The two leaders agreed on 18 outcomes, including 10 agreements, and adopted a Strategic Partnership Roadmap focusing on trade, agriculture, skills, innovation, clean energy, and sports. New Zealand also committed a $20 billion investment in India. The anticipated India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is expected to bolster bilateral trade.
Delhi Government Signs MoU for Rainwater Harvesting in 75 CM Shri Schools
On 10 July 2026, the Delhi Government signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indraprastha Gas Limited and Ehsaas NGO to implement rainwater harvesting systems across 75 CM Shri Schools. This initiative, under the national Catch the Rain campaign, aims to recharge about 2 lakh litres of groundwater annually per school, totaling approximately 50 crore litres from all 75 schools. It includes audits, restoration, new installations, and awareness programs. The project uses the low-cost, low-maintenance Ehsaas model approved by the Delhi Jal Board, targeting sustainability and improved groundwater recharge.
JAXA Successfully Tests RV-X, Japan's Experimental Reusable Rocket
On 11 July 2026, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) conducted the maiden test flight of its reusable rocket, Reusable Vehicle eXperiment (RV-X), at the Noshiro Testing Center in Akita Prefecture. The rocket demonstrated vertical takeoff, hovering, lateral movement, and safe landing within under one minute. Developed jointly with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries since 2016, the RV-X aims to pioneer cost-effective, durable launch vehicles to replace Japan’s H3 rocket by the early 2030s. This milestone highlights Japan’s strides in space technology, emphasizing sustainable and reusable rocketry.
Centre Approves ₹3,000 Crore Scheme to Conserve 15,000 Sacred Groves
On 10 July 2026, the Union Government of India approved the Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana, a ₹3,000 crore five-year scheme to conserve nearly 15,000 sacred groves nationwide. The programme, running from 2026-27 to 2030-31, is funded through the National CAMPA Fund and was approved during the 7th Governing Body meeting of CAMPA held in Coimbatore. Sacred groves are forest patches protected by communities for religious and cultural reasons, vital for biodiversity and ecological balance. The initiative follows a Supreme Court directive from December 2024 mandating protection of such groves, linking it to compensatory afforestation efforts under CAMPA.