Updates on 21 July 2026
All of July 2026 →Offline UPI Payments to Use NFC Tap-to-Pay Technology
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is developing an offline Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment feature that utilizes Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology to enable tap-to-pay transactions at merchant point-of-sale terminals without requiring an active internet connection on either the customer's device or the merchant's terminal. This system will allow payments up to ₹2,000 per transaction. It extends India's existing offline payment methods, which include UPI Lite, UPI Lite X introduced in September 2023 for offline NFC phone-to-phone payments, and the USSD-based 99# service that works without internet on feature phones. NPCI plans to certify compatible point-of-sale devices from leading manufacturers by 2026, facilitating offline digital payments in environments with poor or no connectivity such as metro networks and aircraft cabins.
Amul to Establish World's Largest Curd Plant in West Bengal
Amul, under the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), has initiated the construction of an integrated dairy plant at Howrah Food Park in Sankrail, Howrah district, West Bengal. The project involves an investment of around ₹700 crore and aims to process 30 lakh litres of milk per day when fully operational. It will house the world's largest curd manufacturing facility producing 1,000 metric tonnes daily. Besides curd, the multi-product dairy plant will produce paneer, ghee, sweets, flavoured milk, and ice cream. The project is expected to benefit more than 1.25 lakh dairy farmers in the state, thereby supporting West Bengal's position as a significant milk-producing region.
Earth’s Second-Oldest Orbicular Rock Found in Madhya Pradesh
The Pichhore orbicular granite near Kutawali village in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, has been dated to about 2.56 billion years old, making it the second-oldest known orbicular rock globally, after a similar formation in Western Australia. This rare igneous rock contains orbicules—spherical structures primarily made of quartz and feldspar with concentric layering. Uranium-Lead (U-Pb) zircon dating was used to establish its age, revealing inherited zircon crystals up to 3.5 billion years old. Found within the Bundelkhand Craton, one of India’s oldest stable continental blocks, the discovery sheds light on Precambrian geology and the early evolution of the Indian shield.
China Conducts Live-Fire Naval Drill in Japan-Claimed EEZ near Okinotorishima
On 20 July 2026, China conducted a live-fire naval exercise approximately 180 kilometres southwest of Okinotorishima, an island Japan claims as its southernmost territory and part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The exercise involved a Chinese Luyang III-class missile destroyer and coincided with the presence of a Russian frigate. Japan officially protested this drill the following day, underscoring ongoing disputes over maritime boundaries and the interpretation of UNCLOS provisions pertaining to EEZs and island status.
Ethanol ATMs: India's Move Towards Ethanol-Based Cooking Fuel
India is planning to introduce Ethanol ATMs—dispensing kiosks selling ethanol in sealed canisters for cooking fuel use—targeted for rollout around September 2026. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas aims to promote ethanol, a renewable biofuel produced from sugarcane and maize, as a supplementary cooking fuel to reduce reliance on imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Pilot kiosks at selected fuel retail outlets will test consumer acceptance, focusing initially on commercial kitchens, restaurants, and street food vendors. India's ethanol production capacity has surpassed 20 billion litres annually and is expected to reach 24 billion litres by March 2027. This policy supports energy security and fuel diversification objectives.
Paninian India Unveils Indigenous Yantur 4.5 kN Turbofan Engine Programme
On 20 July 2026, Paninian India Private Ltd., headquartered in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, launched the Yantur 4.5 kN turbofan engine programme. This engine is designed for long-range autonomous platforms like combat drones and cruise missiles and aligns with India's Make-I initiative promoting indigenous defence technologies under the Ministry of Defence.
IIT Tirupati Hosts 5th BRICS Meeting on Geospatial Technologies
From 20 to 22 July 2026, IIT Tirupati held the fifth meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Geospatial Technologies at its Yerpedu campus. The event brought together delegates from the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—and partner nations in a hybrid format. Focus areas included geospatial infrastructure for sustainable development, climate resilience, positioning and navigation technologies, artificial intelligence-based geospatial analytics, and data interoperability. The meeting was organized under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, highlighting India's leading role in BRICS geospatial collaborations.
India's First 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Project Approved at Khavda Solar Park
India has approved its first utility-scale 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Energy Storage System (VRFB BESS) for deployment at Khavda Solar Park, Gujarat. The contract was awarded by NTPC Renewable Energy Limited on 20-21 July 2026, with the system scheduled for deployment in 2027 and inclusive of 10 years of operations and maintenance services. This marks the first and largest grid-scale VRFB BESS installation in India and the first non-lithium utility-scale battery system fully designed, engineered, and manufactured in India, supporting the growth and stability of renewable energy integration at one of the world's largest solar parks planned to reach 30 GW capacity by 2029.
DGCA to Launch Digital Aviation Incident Reporting Platform
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India is developing a digital platform integrated with the eGCA portal to enable electronic submission and processing of mandatory occurrence reports. This initiative aims to enhance the regulatory monitoring and safety oversight within India’s civil aviation sector by streamlining the reporting of aviation incidents, hazards, and operational irregularities, facilitating faster and more efficient safety management under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
DGCA Issues 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licences in India by Mid-2026
Up to 30 June 2026, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) in India. About 41% of these pilots trained abroad while the remainder received training domestically at DGCA-approved Flying Training Organisations (FTOs). India currently has 41 such FTOs operating across 63 locations with over 400 training aircraft, reflecting the growing pilot training ecosystem amid the expansion of the Indian civil aviation sector.
Sikkim Presents Rs 19,215 Crore Budget for 2026-27
On 20 July 2026, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang presented the Rs 19,215 crore budget for the financial year 2026-27. The budget emphasizes infrastructure development, social welfare, and healthcare initiatives such as statewide HPV screening and launching the first Renal Transplant Programme. Key allocations include Rs 11,733 crore for revenue expenditure and Rs 5,896 crore for capital expenditure. It underlines the vision "Viksit Sikkim @2047" and projects the state GSDP at Rs 62,973 crore. Financing will come from state revenues, central transfers, and borrowings, including Rs 2,460 crore earmarked for Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
India Introduces Digital Monthly Toll Pass
In July 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched a digital Local Pass facility through the RajmargYatra mobile application. This allows residents living within a 20-kilometre radius of eligible toll plazas to purchase a monthly pass for unlimited travel through those toll plazas, without needing to visit the toll plaza physically. The system integrates consent-based verification using DigiLocker and VAHAN databases and performs GIS-based validation for eligibility checks. The first rollout location was the Mundka–Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Urban Extension Road-II in Delhi. This initiative complements the existing FASTag electronic toll collection system, which uses RFID technology for automatic toll deduction.
India's First Immersive Language Museum 'Shabdalok' Inaugurated in Kolkata
On 19 July 2026, India inaugurated its first immersive language museum named 'Shabdalok' or Museum of Word, located at the National Library campus in Kolkata. The museum showcases India's rich linguistic heritage, presenting nearly 380 languages including the 121 languages recorded in the 2011 Census of India. It features nine galleries utilizing interactive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality to enhance visitor experience. Entry is free until 15 August 2026, and the museum remains closed on Mondays.