Updates on 25 July 2026
All of July 2026 →Upgradation of Two Lakh Anganwadi Centres into Saksham Anganwadis under Mission Poshan 2.0
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has approved the upgradation of two lakh Anganwadi Centres across India into Saksham Anganwadis to enhance nutrition and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). This is part of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, a centrally sponsored scheme integrating Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls. The scheme targets children under six years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls aged 14-18 years, focusing on Aspirational Districts and the North-Eastern region. It employs ICT tools like the Poshan Tracker app, Aadhaar-based verification, and Facial Recognition System for service delivery and real-time monitoring. As of 25 March 2026, over one lakh Anganwadi Centres have been upgraded.
Rajasthan State Water Plan 2047 Launched to Secure Long-Term Water Management
On 24 July 2026, Rajasthan unveiled its State Water Plan 2047, outlining a comprehensive framework for river linking, groundwater conservation, and public participation. Key projects include the Ramjal Setu Link Project supplying water to 17 districts, and the Yamuna Water Agreement ensuring 1,917 cusecs of water to the Shekhawati region. The plan integrates major irrigation works, urban water supply initiatives under AMRUT 2.0, and rural water access through the Jal Jeevan Mission. The initiative aims to address arid conditions and improve water infrastructure across the state by 2047.
Indian Railways Starts AI-based Linen Stain Detection Pilot
On 24 July 2026, Indian Railways launched a pilot project to use artificial intelligence for stain detection on washed linen in mechanised laundries. The pilot is implemented in Pune Division of Central Railway and Jaipur and Jodhpur divisions of North Western Railway, employing automated camera technology, computer vision, and machine learning algorithms to improve cleanliness inspections.
20% Local Language Content Rule for Private FM Radio Channels in India
As of 24 July 2026, India has 386 operational private FM radio channels governed by the Private FM Radio Policy. The policy mandates that at least 20% of daily broadcast content on private FM stations must be in the local language of the respective city. This rule promotes regional culture, traditions, and community engagement by linking broadcasts to local folklore and folk music. The policy framework also enables private broadcasters to use Prasar Bharati infrastructure for expansion, following the Phase-III policy implemented in 2015. This regulation is crucial for fostering linguistic diversity and enhancing the cultural relevance of FM radio in India.
India Secures Lower US Tariff Rate Under Section 301 in 2026
In July 2026, the United States imposed new tariffs under Section 301 of its 1974 Trade Act on imports from 60 countries. India secured a reduced additional tariff rate of 10%, down from the initially proposed 12.5%, effective from 25 July 2026. This development follows India's June 2026 amendment to its Foreign Trade Policy that prohibits imports of goods made with forced labour. India is grouped with 16 other economies including Canada and the UK under the 10% tariff bracket, whereas China, Vietnam, and Japan are subject to a higher 12.5% rate. The tariffs replace previous 10% global tariffs and coexist with Section 232 duties on select products like steel and aluminium. Ongoing bilateral trade talks between India and the US aim to address these tariff issues further.
Bhargavastra: India’s Indigenous Counter-Swarm Drone System Demoed
Bhargavastra, an indigenous vehicle-mounted counter-swarm drone system developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (SDAL), was demonstrated for the Indian Army on 24 July 2026 in Nagpur. This multi-layered hard-kill system is designed to detect, track, identify, and neutralise hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including drone swarms using a dual-layer kill mechanism involving unguided micro-rockets and precision-guided micro-missiles. The system integrates radar, Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors, and passive radio-frequency detectors, capable of detecting larger drones up to 10 kilometres and smaller ones up to 6 kilometres. Bhargavastra supports India’s evolving air defence capabilities and is intended to integrate with the future Sudarshan Chakra air defence system planned for 2030.
SEBI Proposes Overhaul of Portfolio Management Services Norms
On 23 July 2026, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) released a consultation paper proposing significant revisions to the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020. The proposals include the introduction of a mutual fund-only Portfolio Management Services (PMS) category with reduced minimum investment and net worth thresholds (₹2 lakh and ₹2 crore respectively), expanded investment flexibility including overseas listed equity and debt securities, to-be-listed securities, and investment-grade unlisted debt securities (up to 10% of a client’s Assets Under Management) for discretionary PMS providers. The PMS industry has witnessed rapid growth, with Assets Under Management reaching ₹42.61 lakh crore by May 2026 and the number of portfolio managers increasing from 226 in 2020 to 515 in May 2026. These regulatory changes aim to enhance investor access, increase flexibility, and streamline regulatory oversight in the PMS segment.
European Commission Fines Google €890 Million Under Digital Markets Act for Antitrust Violations
On 23 July 2026, the European Commission fined Google €890 million under the EU's Digital Markets Act for antitrust violations. The fine comprised €460 million for self-preferencing its own services in Google Search results and €430 million for anti-steering restrictions on app developers in Google Play. These measures targeted Google's prioritisation of services like shopping, travel, and translation in search results and restrictions preventing developers from directing users toward alternative payment options. Google must comply within 60 days or face additional sanctions up to 5% of its worldwide turnover.
Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns as Union Education Minister Amid NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Controversy
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on 25 July 2026 following massive student protests over alleged paper leaks in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. The Government of India responded by cancelling the exam, announcing a fresh date, and commissioning the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the irregularities. Additionally, the government decided that future NEET examinations would shift to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format to enhance transparency and security.
Massive Wildfires Trigger Evacuations in France and Spain on 24 July 2026
On 24 July 2026, severe wildfires struck southwestern France's Cap Ferret peninsula in Gironde and central Spain near Madrid and Ávila, forcing the evacuation of over 80,000 residents. France evacuated 44,000 people, including holidaymakers, as fires destroyed more than 12,500 hectares of forest. Spain declared its first national wildfire emergency, evacuating around 20,000 people from areas near Madrid. Both nations requested aid from the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to manage this environmental crisis, which underscores the wildfire risks in Mediterranean climate regions during extreme weather conditions.