At a special ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with a Presidential Distinction - ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ by the President of Seychelles, H.E. Dr. Patrick Herminie.
This is the first time that this distinguished honour has been bestowed.
The honour has been conferred upon Prime Minister for his green leadership, and efforts towards advancing the interests of developing countries and his longstanding commitment towards promoting the Blue Economy, climate action, sustainable management of ocean resources, and the developmental aspirations of Small Island Developing States.
This recognition is the latest in a series of such honours bestowed upon Prime Minister for promoting sustainable development, including the Agricola Medal by FAO, Seoul Peace Prize and the UN Champion of the Earth Award.
As part of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s State Visit to Seychelles from 27-29 June 2026, Prime Minister and the President of Seychelles, H.E. Dr. Patrick Herminie held official talks at the State House in Victoria, Mahe.
Following the official talks, both leaders released a joint commemorative logo marking 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Several MoUs/agreements in the fields of Capacity Building, UPI, Health, Agriculture, Shipping, Space, Extradition and Line of Credit were exchanged thereafter.
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal witnessed the live demonstration of the Eurobank-NIPL partnership enabling UPI services at Eurobank headquarters in Athens, alongside its CEO, Mr. Fokion Karavias, and CEO of Fairfax Digital Services, Mr. Sanjay Tugnait, marking another important milestone in the global expansion of India’s digital payment ecosystem.
Shri Piyush Goyal said that the launch marks another important milestone in the global expansion of India's digital payment ecosystem. He said that, with UPI now live in Greece, eligible customers can transfer money instantly, securely, and seamlessly, with transaction costs reduced significantly to a fraction of those associated with conventional money transfer methods.
The delegation participated in the India-Greece Business Council Meeting and Business Forum at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). Three sectoral roundtables were convened on Infrastructure (Energy, Ports, Logistics, Shipbuilding, Warehousing, Trade, Gem & Jewellery); Digital Innovation & Defence; and Food Processing & Agriculture.
The Government had earlier provided a full Customs Duty exemption on imports of critical petrochemical products till 30th June 2026, as a temporary and targeted relief in view of the conflict in West Asia and the consequent disruptions in global supply chains.
The exemption was provided to ensure sufficient availability of petrochemicals in the domestic market as Indian petroleum companies had been asked to concentrate on the production of LPG during this period.
As the situation is gradually normalizing, to ensure a smooth and non-disruptive transition for the affected sectors, it has been decided to extend the said exemption by a further period of 15 days, that is, till 15th July 2026.The list of products covered remains the same as notified earlier.
The Government remains committed to supporting India's manufacturing sector.
The monthly accounts of the Government of India upto the month of May, 2026 has been consolidated and reports published. The highlights are given below: -
The Government of India has received Rs. 7,18,669 crore (19.7% of corresponding BE 2026-27 of Total Receipts) upto May, 2026 comprising Rs. 3,48,138 crore of Tax Revenue (Net to Centre),
Rs. 3,50,867 crore of Non-Tax Revenue and Rs. 19,664 crore of Non-Debt Capital Receipts. Rs. 1,75,557 crore has been transferred to State Governments as Devolution of Share of Taxes by Government of India during this period which is Rs. 12,086 crore higher than the previous year.
Total Expenditure incurred by Government of India is Rs. 8,81,023 crore (16.5% of corresponding BE 2026-27), out of which Rs. 6,30,020 crore is on Revenue Account and Rs. 2,51,003 crore is on Capital Account. Out of the Total Revenue Expenditure, Rs. 1,81,461 crore is on account of Interest Payments and Rs. 75,542 crore is on account of Major Subsidies.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah launched the FCRA 2.0 Portal and e-OCI Card in New Delhi. On this occasion, Union Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and several other senior officials were present.
On this occasion, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said in his address that both the new initiatives launched will prove to be highly beneficial in increasing the convenience of citizens.
The Government of India has notified the revised wage rates payable under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB- G RAM G Act, 2025, with effect from 1 July 2026, coinciding with the nationwide commencement of the Act.
The Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India Pvt. Ltd. to strengthen the digital promotion of India's tourism destinations through the use of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, data-driven insights and capacity building.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Google India in key areas including digital tourism promotion, knowledge sharing, capacity building and the use of emerging technologies for enhancing visitor engagement.
The partnership will leverage Google's expertise across its digital ecosystem to strengthen the visibility of India's tourism destinations, experiences and cultural heritage among domestic and international travellers. The collaboration is non-commercial, non-binding and non-exclusive, with no financial implications for either side.
The governments of Rajasthan and Haryana signed an agreement for the construction and implementation of the Yamuna Water Project, marking the resolution of a long-pending inter-state water issue.
The project aims to facilitate the conveyance of Rajasthan’s allocated share of Yamuna waters through an underground pipeline system connected to the Western Yamuna Canal, enabling the state to utilise the water allocated under the 1994 Memorandum of Understanding on the sharing of utilisable surface waters of the Upper Yamuna Basin.
Under the agreement, around 580 million cubic metres (MCM) of water will be supplied from the Yamuna Canal to Rajasthan between July and October through three underground pipelines, each measuring more than 3.6 metres in diameter.
The project is expected to improve drinking water supply in Sikar, Churu and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, while also benefiting the Bhiwani and Fatehabad regions of Haryana.
The project also seeks to utilise rainwater that previously went unused by storing it in large ponds, helping improve groundwater recharge in the region.
India and Saudi Arabia have taken another step towards strengthening their strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in water resources during the Saudi Water Week in Jeddah.
The Memorandum of Understanding is aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in water resources planning, sustainable water management, irrigation systems, capacity building, and the exchange of technical expertise and best practices.
Officials said the agreement will also promote collaboration in areas related to efficient water use and long-term water security, reflecting the shared commitment of both countries to address growing water challenges.
Consul General of India in Jeddah, Fahad Suri, was also present at the signing ceremony.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has constituted an expert working group to review the regulatory framework governing debenture trusteeship activities amid evolving dynamics in the Indian debt market.
The move comes in view of the increasing importance of debenture trustees in safeguarding the interests of debenture holders and the need to align regulations with changes in the financial sector.
The working group will be chaired by Ananta Barua, former whole-time member of Sebi, with Rajnish Kumar, former chairman of State Bank of India, serving as co-chairperson.
A debenture trustee plays a key role in monitoring compliance, protecting debenture holders' interests, and overseeing the issuer's financial obligations. These are usually financial institutions, banks, insurance firms, or a body corporate registered with Sebi.
Other members of the committee include O N Ravi, former general counsel and executive vice president at CCIL; Rahul Choudhary, managing director and chief executive officer of Axis Trustee Services; Pratapsingh Nathani, managing director and chief executive officer of Beacon Trusteeship; Ashish Pahariya, partner at DSK Legal; and Vinod Kothari, among others.
The panel is tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review of the existing regulatory framework, examining representations from market participants, and recommending measures to strengthen the role of debenture trustees. It will also review net-worth requirements and examine related matters.
IIT Bombay and SBI Life Insurance have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Bharat AI & Cyber Innovation Hub for Insurance, a joint research and innovation centre aimed at creating indigenous AI-based cybersecurity solutions for the Indian insurance industry.
This partnership will ensure enhanced safety of customer information by creating technologies conceived, developed, and owned in India.
By integrating IIT Bombay's research capabilities with SBI Life's experience, the two entities intend to develop scalable, robust digital security frameworks for the insurance sector.
The other major objective behind the partnership is to create synergy between the academic institution and the industrial player. Through the association, innovation will be promoted, practical research will be facilitated, and a talent pool will be developed in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the reappointment of Ravi Agrawal as chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on a contract basis for a further period of six months, from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the extension will be on the usual terms and conditions applicable to re-employed Central government officers and in relaxation of the Recruitment Rules.
National Doctors Day 2026 in India will be observed on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.
The day is celebrated to recognise the contribution of doctors to individual health and public wellbeing. It also honours the legacy of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India’s most respected physicians and public leaders.
In India, National Doctors Day was first observed in 1991. The date, 1 July, was chosen because it marks both the birth anniversary and death anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy.
Dr B.C. Roy was born on 1 July 1882 and passed away on 1 July 1962. He was a physician, educator, freedom fighter, and statesman.
He also served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal and made lasting contributions to healthcare, education, and public service.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1961 for his contribution to the nation.
By celebrating National Doctors Day on his birth and death anniversary, India honours not only one remarkable doctor but the larger medical profession.
July 1 marks the 77th anniversary of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the world's second-largest accounting body. Established in 1949, even before India's Constitution, ICAI plays a crucial role beyond tax filing, guiding businesses through complex financial landscapes.
Its motto, "the one who is awake in those that sleep," underscores the profession's core values of vigilance and accountability, ensuring trust in the nation's financial dealings.
