India will chair the Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection Law and Policy, organised by the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, from 06 to 08 July 2026.
The Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE), constituted under the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection, is the principal intergovernmental platform for cooperation and dialogue on consumer protection law and policy.
India has been actively contributing to international discussions on consumer protection.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)'s flagship initiative, ICMR-MINDS, a National Health Research Priority project, has been conferred the Gold Award under Category 2 Innovation by Use of AI and Other New Age Technologies for Providing Citizen-Centric Services at the National Awards for e-Governance,
instituted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
ICMR-MINDS is an implementation research study on the integration of screening and management of mental and substance use disorders with other non-communicable diseases.
The initiative is being implemented across seven states through seven collaborating institutions: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Guwahati (Assam); Gujarat Institute of Mental Health (GIMH), Ahmedabad (Gujarat); AIIMS, New Delhi (Haryana); St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru (Karnataka); AIIMS, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh); AIIMS, Bhubaneswar (Odisha);
and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh (Punjab).
The success of ICMR-MINDS has been made possible through close collaboration with the State Health Departments of Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Punjab, along with State Mental Health and NCD Programme teams, district health authorities, etc.
India will host the BRICS Women Working Group (WWG) Meeting on 6-7 July 2026 in Kochi, Kerala, under its BRICS Chairship 2026. Senior government officials from BRICS Member Countries will come together to deliberate on key issues relating to women's empowerment across all sectors and women-led development, while advancing cooperation across shared priorities.
Guided by India's BRICS Chairship theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach, the BRICS Women Track has focused on four priority areas: women in governance and leadership; women's digital and financial inclusion; women's entrepreneurship and skill development;
and women's role in climate action, food security and nutrition.
BRICS comprises 11 countries - Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, which together account for around 40 per cent of global GDP.
BRICS represents about 49.5% of the global population. Within this, women's political, social, and economic development shapes outcomes across every sector, making the Women Track a strategically vital track in BRICS 2026.
The Legislative Department & the Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Law and Justice jointly organised a two-day ‘Reforms Utsav & Chintan Shivir 2026’ on 4 and 5 July, 2026 at the serene Gyan Sarovar, Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
The Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, inaugurated the Reform Utsav & Chintan Shivir on 4th July, 2026, and addressed the senior officers and participants of both departments.
The deliberations culminated in the preparation of a comprehensive vision document containing concrete reform proposals, recommendations for institutional strengthening and actionable implementation measures for the Ministry.
In the Valedictory Session, Dr. Rajiv Mani, Secretary, Legislative Department and Department of Legal Affairs, released the outcome of the Utsav & Shivis as a 'Sankalp Patra', encapsulating the collective resolve and reform agenda emerging from the two-day Chintan Shivir.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, facilitated the virtual flag-off of the first export shipment of premium Areko Cherries (High-Density European Sweet Cherries) and Scentrose Plums from the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The export consignment, comprising one metric tonne of premium stone fruits sourced from farmers in Shopian and Pulwama districts, highlights the growing export potential of Jammu & Kashmir's high-value horticultural produce and the increasing global demand for premium Indian fruits.
The virtual flag-off ceremony was led by APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev.
The Government has increased the procurement price of onions for the Price Stabilisation Buffer by 13%, from Rs. 1,875 per quintal to Rs. 2,125 per quintal. The revised procurement price is effective from 4 July 2026. Procurement of onions through NAFED and NCCF for the Government's Price Stabilisation Buffer is in progress.
The revised procurement price will ensure better returns for onion farmers while supporting buffer procurement efforts.
As per the Second Advance Estimates of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare for 2025-26, onion production is estimated at 307.37 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), which is comparable to the production of 307.67 LMT in 2024-25.
Current stock levels in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are adequate. At present, there are no indications of any shortage of stored onions.
Daily mandi arrivals at the all-India level remain robust at over 50,000 metric tonnes (MT), while arrivals in Maharashtra are over 30,000 MT, with average modal prices of about ₹18 per kg.
Better-quality stocks continue to remain in storage and are expected to be released during the lean period. The all-India average retail price is Rs. 31 per kg.
Onion exports are normal, with about 1.50 LMT exported during June 2026.
However, traders expect that the pace of onion exports may slow down for a short duration, primarily because fresh crops from Pakistan and China are available at competitive rates in key export destinations such as the Gulf countries, Sri Lanka and the Far East.
While the Nashik region of Maharashtra has reported about a 15-day delay in Kharif sowing, the sowing progress in the Chitradurga and Challakere belt of Karnataka is estimated to be around 60 per cent of normal.
The Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the State of Israel signed on 8th September 2025 in New Delhi, enters into force with effect from today, i.e., 04 July 2026.
The BIA is a landmark step towards strengthening bilateral economic relations and ensuring a secure and predictable investment climate.
The BIA is robust in protection of Investment and Investor with respect to their investments while being flexible enough to retain sovereign policy space in line with legitimate public policy objectives, reflecting the modern principles and evolving jurisprudence of international investment law.
Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Mizuho Bank, the banking arm of Japan's Mizuho Financial Group announced a strategic partnership to enhance collaboration across mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financing and related services.
The partnership brings together Mizuho's extensive global network, cross-border capabilities and expertise in structured finance with Bank of Baroda's strong domestic franchise, deep corporate relationships and comprehensive understanding of the Indian market, a joint statement said.
Under this partnership, Mizuho and BoB will collaborate on transactions covering acquisition financing, including joint origination, structuring, co-underwriting and syndication, M&A advisory on identified deals and forming preferred-partner channels for sub-participation and secondary risk distribution, it said.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-operator National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) signed separate partnerships with HSBC India and JPMorgan Payments to simplify how Indians pay through UPI while travelling abroad.
Fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) on June 30, 2026 cleared the acquisition of IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore by a consortium of Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone in a Rs. 16,660-crore all-cash deal.
In March 2026, United Spirits Ltd (USL) announced the sale of IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a Rs. 16,660-crore all-cash deal to the consortium.
The CCI said it has approved the proposed deal.
CCI approves acquisition of 100% shareholding of Royal Challengers Sports by a consortium comprising Big Banyan Holdings, Bolt IPL Holdings, Times Internet, Times Cricket, ICQ Opportunities, Asia Investment Topco II and others.
Private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank has entered into a definitive agreement with Deutsche Bank to acquire its retail banking, affluent private banking and wealth management business in India for Rs 281.7 crore. The business being acquired consists of loans worth Rs 29,000 crore, deposits worth Rs 16,000 crore, and assets under management (AUM) of Rs 10,500 crore.
Approximately 1,000 Deutsche Bank employees in India are expected to join Kotak Mahindra Bank as part of this transaction.
Moreover, 16 of the foreign bank’s 17 branches will become part of Kotak’s network. Deutsche Bank will retain the Fort, Mumbai, branch. The foreign lender’s 15,000 customers are also part of the deal.
The bank said the acquisition reflects Kotak’s inorganic growth strategy of pursuing targeted opportunities that strengthen its core franchise. “This transaction aligns well with our focus on the affluent and SME segments. It is a strong strategic fit and makes sound commercial sense.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation has signed an agreement on 29 June 2026 to acquire 40% equity stake in Tiki Tar and Shell India (TTSIPL), a joint venture company of Tiki Tar Group and Shell Gas B.V. for a cash consideration of Rs 85 crore.
The acquisition is primarily driven by the need to capture the rapidly growing market for Value-Added Bitumen (VAB) in India's booming infrastructure sector.
TTSIPL operates in the business of marketing, processing, purchasing, importing, exporting, and selling bitumen and bituminous products primarily in India, with export sales extending to Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
Its product portfolio provides solutions for both highways and airport runways, consisting specifically of VG Grade Bitumen, Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen (CRMB), Emulsion, and Emulsion OB.
Poet Puviyarasu, a two-time recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award and one of the founders of the Vanampadi poetry movement that helped shape modern Tamil verse, Passed away.
He received the Sahitya Akademi Award for Translation in 2006 for his Tamil translation of the poems of Kazi Nazrul Islam, published under the title Puratchikaran.
In 2009, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his poetry collection Kaiyoppam.
Senior bureaucrat Bishwanath Sinha assumed charge as the Chief Secretary of Kerala at a function held at Darbar Hall in the Secretariat. The 1992-batch IAS officer took over from A. Jayathilak, who retired as the State Chief Secretary.
The State government accorded a farewell to the outgoing Chief Secretary at a function held at Darbar Hall. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty were present on the occasion. Additional Chief Secretary Rajan N. Khobragade also retired from service.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has completed more than 10 years of advancing irrigation-led agricultural transformation in India.
PMKSY has emerged as a key driver of irrigation-led agricultural transformation, with central assistance exceeding Rs. 64,407 crore.
The Borjuli wetland in Assam, known for harbouring a disease and pest-resistant variety of wild rice, has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), marking a major milestone in the conservation of India’s wild rice genetic resources.
The wild rice species, Oryza rufipogon, is the progenitor of present-day cultivated rice, Oryza sativa.
The wild rice species, Oryza rufipogon, is the progenitor of present-day cultivated rice, Oryza sativa. It is resistant to pests and diseases and can tolerate flooding and saline conditions, making it a valuable genetic resource for developing climate-resilient crop varieties.
The recognition follows the implementation of the project, “In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam,” which has been underway since 2022.
Funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the project is being executed by the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), New Delhi, in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is pleased to announce a significant milestone in India’s aviation sector with the approval of the country’s first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations at Undavalli Heliport.
Developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the PinS procedure has been designed in accordance with DGCA regulations and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices.
PinS (Point-in-Space) procedures use advanced satellite-based navigation technology to enable helicopters to conduct safe and precise instrument approaches to heliports that do not have conventional instrument landing infrastructure. This is particularly beneficial during adverse weather conditions and in areas where ground-based navigation aids are not available.
he Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi on Wednesday demonstrated an indigenously developed low-cost tactical aerostat built in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and a domestic startup.
IIT Delhi Professor Bhupen Singh Bhatola said the institute has developed an indigenous tactical aerostat capable of carrying surveillance and communication payloads at altitudes of up to 20 km, reducing reliance on imported systems.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $182.89 million (in yen equivalent) loan to strengthen the public school system in Karnataka, establishing 500 integrated public schools, according to a statement by the lender.
The multilateral development bank announced it has approved the loan under the Strengthening Karnataka Public Schools Program that will establish 500 integrated public school clusters across the state, offering education from pre-primary to secondary levels.
The programme is financed through ADB's results-based lending mechanism and aligned with the Karnataka government's education reforms and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Noting Karnataka as a fast-growing state in South India, the lender highlighted the state has one of the country's youngest populations, with 70 per cent in the 15-64 working-age group.
Furthermore, the lender's financing will be supplemented by a $10 million grant and a $25 million guarantee from the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd), as per the release.
Insurance regulator IRDAI has granted certificate of registration to Prudential HCL Health Insurance to carry on health insurance business in India.
With this registration, the number of standalone health insurers operating in India has increased to eight.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) said it took the decision to grant the registration at its meeting. This is the third registration granted during the calendar year 2026, IRDAI said in a release.
Prudential HCL Health Insurance Limited is a joint venture between the Prudential Group (UK) and the HCL Group (India).
In March 2025, Prudential had announced its plan to establish a joint venture with Vama Sundari Investments (Delhi), an HCL Group’s promoter company, to operate a standalone Indian health insurance business. The JV aims to address the growing healthcare needs of the Indian consumer and contribute to the government’s vision of Insurance for All by 2047, it had said.
Subject to obtaining regulatory approvals, Prudential Group Holdings, a UK subsidiary of Prudential plc, will hold a 70% stake in the JV, while Vama will hold the remaining 30% stake, it had said.
The Ministry of Steel has approved the grant of Miniratna Category-I status to MECON Limited, a Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel. MECON has achieved significant financial milestones in recent years.
The Company has reported continuous profits during the last three financial years, recording a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 77.62 crore in FY 2023-24 (restated), Rs. 32.08 crore in FY 2024-25 (restated), and Rs. 104.53 crore in FY 2025-26. The Company also reported a positive net worth of Rs. 535.42 crore as on 31 March 2026, thereby fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
The Miniratna Category-I status provides enhanced financial and operational autonomy to the Board of MECON Limited.
MECON Limited, established in 1959 and headquartered in Ranchi, is one of India's premier engineering, consultancy, project management and contracting organizations.
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) presented its 2026 Leadership Award to Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises.
Mittal was recognised for transforming India's telecommunications landscape and for his contributions as a global business leader to advancing economic ties between India and North America.
V Prem Watsa, chairman and chief executive officer of Fairfax Financial Holdings, and Christopher T Calio, chairman and chief executive officer of RTX Corporation, were also honoured with the Leadership Award for their leadership and contributions to strengthening the India-US strategic and economic partnership.
The International Day of Cooperatives (#CoopsDay) is celebrated globally on the first Saturday of July, which fell on 4 July 2026.
The 2026 theme of the United Nations International Day of Cooperatives, “Cooperatives for a peaceful world”, affirms the contribution of cooperative enterprises to social justice, inclusion and solidarity.
Cooperatives are democratic models of ownership rooted in solidarity, participation and sustainable development. They are founded on a simple but powerful idea: people can come together, in freedom and solidarity, to meet shared needs through enterprises that they own and govern democratically.
World Rural Development Day is celebrated globally on 6 July.
As the UN’s specialized agency for investing in rural people, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) works to close this gap.
IFAD is the only international financial institution exclusively focused on rural transformation, reaching over 200 million people through ongoing investments totaling US$22.8 billion.
