The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated 'Saushrutam 2026' at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi on July 15, 2026, on Sushruta Jayanti. She also inaugurated the MRI section of AIIA on the occasion. The President congratulated everyone associated with Ayurveda on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Acharya Sushruta.
He is popularly recognised as the father of surgery. Acharya Sushruta is renowned as a pioneer of numerous complex and innovative surgical procedures. In his time, he introduced new techniques in various fields such as plastic surgery, cataract surgery, treatment of tumours and ENT surgery.
The Sushruta Samhita, authored by him, has provided a new direction not only to the Indian subcontinent but to the entire world.
The three-day international seminar being hosted by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) will bring together eminent surgeons, academicians, and researchers from India and other countries.
The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, addressed the Valedictory Session of the Vidhayi Gaurav Yatra: Former and Sitting Members’ Conclave, organised as part of the 75th-year celebrations of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly at Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha in Jaipur. He described the State Legislatures as the living heartbeat of Indian democracy.
Sharing an experience from his tenure as a Member of the Lok Sabha, he recalled that recommendations made by the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Textiles, which he had convened, ultimately led to the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme. He urged legislators to actively contribute through debates, and Committee work.
Other key persons present in the session: Governor of Rajasthan Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Governor of Punjab Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Shri Vasudev Devnani, Rajasthan Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Law and Justice Shri Jogaram Patel, Leader of the Opposition Shri Tika Ram Jully.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a budgetary outlay of Rs 62,500 crore (Rupees Sixty-Two Thousand Five Hundred Crore Only).
During scheme tenure, cumulative mobile phone production in the country is expected to reach approximately Rs 39,00,000 crore with increase in exports of mobile phones. The Scheme is also expected to generate around 60,000 direct jobs thereby contributing to economic growth, employment generation and strengthening India’s position in global electronics manufacturing hub.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Semicon 2.0 for the development of India's semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem, with a total budget outlay of Rs.1,27,500 crore.
Recognising the requirement for a sustained and long-term support to Semiconductor sector in India and also to build on the momentum generated under Semicon1.0, Semicon 2.0 aims to further the Government's commitment towards putting our country on the semiconductor map of the world.
In July 2026, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved two projects of Ministry of Railways with total cost of Rs.3,907 crore. These projects include: Paradeep – Haridaspur - Doubling and Rajkharsawan – Dangoaposi - 4th Line. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion.
The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. The projects are in line with the Prime Minister’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment opportunities.
The projects are planned on PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan with focus on enhancing multi-modal connectivity & logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. These projects will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods, and services. This project will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 145 Kms.
The proposed multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to approx. 1,526 villages, which are having a population of about 14 lakhs.
The proposed capacity enhancement will improve rail connectivity to several prominent tourist destinations across the country, including Lalitgiri Buddhist Complex, Shree Baladevjew Temple, Meghahatuburu Hills, etc.
The proposed projects are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as coal, iron ore, dolomite, limestone, gypsum, etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 44 Million Tonnes Per Annum.
In July 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers on National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 for Atmanirbhar Bharat (NIPU-2026). The policy will encourage new investments in the Urea sector for setting up the gas based Urea manufacturing units in the country.
This will help in the achieving the goal of self-sufficiency. Further, the key changes in comparison to NIP-2012 includes the separation of fixed and variable costs for greater transparency, introduction of a viable Return on Equity (RoE) band with a floor at 12% and a ceiling at 16%.
It will also lead to mitigation of foreign exchange risk through conversion of fixed cost into INR after four years based on prevailing exchange rates. These measures are estimated to result in savings of over Rs.250 crore for each plant established under NIPU-2026 compared to NIP-2012.
To attract New Investments in the Urea sector, a policy for investments in the Urea sector was finalised by the Department of Fertilizers for Revamp, Expansion, Revival/Brownfield and Greenfield projects in 2012. Under New Investment Policy (NIP) 2012, total 6 new Urea units have been set up.
These were set up through Joint Venture Companies (JVC) of nominated PSUs and 2 urea units set up by the private companies. The period for new investment under NIP-2012 expired by October-2019.
At present, there are 33 operational Urea manufacturing units with total Reassessed/installed capacity of 269.42 LMT.
In a significant step towards strengthening research and innovation in the medicinal plants sector, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush, and the University of Delhi, through Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences (BCAS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2026 at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.
The collaboration aims to establish a long-term partnership for scientific research, product development, innovation, value addition, post-harvest technologies, sustainable packaging, technology transfer and capacity building, while promoting the sustainable utilization and conservation of India's rich medicinal plant resources.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Mahesh Dadhich, Chief Executive Officer, National Medicinal Plants Board, emphasized the importance of research-driven innovation in enhancing farmers' income through medicinal plant cultivation. He highlighted the potential of developing eco-friendly and health-safe packaging materials derived from medicinal plant resources.
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, through MY Bharat portal, is organising the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme across universities and colleges from 16th July to 15th August 2026 under the theme "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat." It aims to connect young citizens with the vision of a developed India while creating awareness about harmful effects of substance use.
By combining civic engagement with anti-drug awareness, the programme seeks to empower youth to become ambassadors of a healthy, responsible and drug-free India.
The programme will engage students through interactive sessions, presentations, awareness activities and digital participation on the MY Bharat platform.
The programme will primarily engage youth in the 15–25 years age group from rural, urban and tribal communities. Participating institutions may subsequently establish MY Bharat Chapters to ensure sustained youth engagement and facilitate implementation of future MY Bharat initiatives.
National Council for Vocational Education and Training, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, and Australian Skills Quality Authority, Government of Australia, have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the regulation and quality assurance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Under the Letter of Intent, NCVET and ASQA will collaborate in areas such as quality assurance frameworks, regulatory approaches, accreditation practices, monitoring systems, capacity building, staff exchanges, joint workshops and other initiatives that enhance the effectiveness, credibility, and global relevance of vocational education and training.
ASQA will also facilitate the engagement of relevant stakeholders to explore cooperation relating to mutual recognition and benchmarking of qualifications, digital credentialing mechanisms, alignment of occupational standards and exchange of insights into labour market trends.
ASQA is the national regulator for vocational education and training (VET) in Australia.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training is the national regulator for vocational education and training. NCVET is responsible for the recognition and regulation of Awarding Bodies and Assessment Agencies, approval of NSQF-aligned qualifications, promotion of quality assurance, and strengthening the vocational education and skilling ecosystem in India.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has accorded in-principle approval to two strategic maritime infrastructure projects, a Greenfield shipbuilding cluster in Porbandar district of Gujarat and a state-of-the-art ship repair facility at Vadinar in Gulf of Kutch, under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme.
The Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster will be developed through the National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park–Gujarat (NSHIP-Gujarat), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) jointly promoted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and the Gujarat Maritime Board.
Spread across nearly 2,000 acres at Kuchhadi in Gujarat's Porbandar district, the integrated maritime manufacturing cluster will comprise modern shipyards, ancillary manufacturing units, common infrastructure and capability development centres. The project is designed to build large commercial vessels with an annual production capacity of 1.2 to 1.5 million gross tonnage.
The second project approved under the scheme is a ₹1,570-crore ship repair facility at Vadinar, to be jointly developed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA). The project has now secured in-principle approval under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme for 25% financial assistance on eligible capital infrastructure.
Leveraging Vadinar's natural deep draft, strategic location along major international shipping routes and proximity to ports such as Mundra and Deendayal Port, the facility is expected to emerge as one of India's premier ship repair hubs. Once operational, it will enable the domestic repair of vessels measuring up to 300 metres in length.
The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), an institute of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, successfully hosted its third annual industry business meet, SYNCHN 2026 (Synergistic Collaboration in Healthcare Innovation), at the NCR Biotech Science Cluster campus in Faridabad.
There were crucial panel sessions during the SYNCHN 2026.
Plenary Panel on Global Health - Science, Manufacturing & Partnerships highlighted India's expanding influence in addressing global healthcare challenges by strengthening international scientific collaborations and integrated research ecosystems.
Panel 2 discussed the need of streamlining pathways to transition academic breakthroughs to first-in-human trials faster and utilizing integrated clinical research platforms as critical enablers for real-world validation.
Panel 3 highlighted the need to bridge the gap to commercialisation by aligning innovators, investors, and accelerators to scale biotech startups.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today launched Phase-III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) with a total outlay of ₹1,500 crore.
This includes 1,000 crore from the Department of Biotechnology and ₹500 crore from London based Wellcome Trust, UK.
The flagship programme is to be jointly implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and Wellcome Trust, UK, through the DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance.
Launched in 2008, the Biomedical Research Career Programme has supported more than 500 researchers, strengthened biomedical research across over 200 institutions, trained thousands of students and early-career scientists, and generated globally recognised scientific contributions.
In the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi for the establishment of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants in Delhi for the proper utilization of cow dung.
Shri Amit Shah said that the processing of cow dung will be completed at the Nangli, Ghoga-Goyla and Ghazipur waste disposal plants. He said that this symbolic initiative is very important for ensuring cleanliness in all urban areas and for increasing the income of crores of livestock farmers across the country.
He further said that this agreement will prove highly significant for all metropolitan cities across the country, and later, through cow dung processing, it will also be very beneficial for livestock farmers in rural areas throughout India. He mentioned that the agreement includes a provision to pay livestock farmers ₹1 per kilogram of cow dung.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Agrinnovate India Limited (AgIn) jointly organized the “ICAR Technology Portfolio for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave 2026” successfully at the NASC Complex, New Delhi. The conclave showcased ICAR's portfolio of CSR-ready technologies, innovative research, and scalable interventions.
The thematic focus areas of this year's conclave included Climate-Proofing of Indian Agriculture; Soil Health Improvement through Nature-Based Solutions and Crop Diversification; Agriculture for Health; Agricultural Skilling; And Women in Agriculture and Agricultural Extension. These priority areas are aimed at addressing critical agricultural challenges.
As a precursor to the conclave, four regional ICAR CSR & Technology Portfolio Roadshows were organized at Hyderabad (20 June 2026), Bengaluru (23 June 2026), Mumbai (1 July 2026), and Kolkata (7 July 2026). The roadshows were conducted to explore and mobilize CSR partners for strategic collaborations in sustainable agricultural development.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under its flagship i-DRONE initiative, has demonstrated that drone-assisted transport of tuberculosis (TB) sputum samples can significantly improve access to diagnostic services for people living in remote and underserved areas.
The findings emerge from a programme-based study conducted in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the District TB Office under National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
Diagnostic delays were also significantly reduced, enabling earlier confirmation of disease and facilitating faster clinical decision-making.
Importantly, the study observed a substantial reduction in the financial burden borne by patients. The mean out-of-pocket expenditure associated with seeking TB diagnosis reduced from approximately ₹9,451 before to ₹91 now.
Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd. has launched Axis Max Life Smart Retirement Income with Sustained Earnings Plan [Smart RISE], a retirement product that combines guaranteed annuity component with a benchmark-linked component tied to the NIFTY 50 Index, allowing customers to secure stable retirement income while leveraging growth potential.
The plan allows policyholder to customize their retirement timeline by selecting a deferment period, during which no annuity is payable. Upon the completion of this deferment phase, the annuitant begins receiving regular payouts.
The payputs comprise Guaranteed Annuity and Variable Annuity.
Guaranteed Annuity: A fixed, dependable income stream that remains constant throughout the entire policy term, ensuring foundational financial certainty.
Variable Annuity: An Index-linked income stream tied directly to the performance of the NIFTY 50 Index, offering policyholders a reliable mechanism to gain from the market upside.
Smart RISE also embeds a critical legacy-planning benefit. In the event of the annuitant's demise, the option provides a Return of Purchase Price to the designated nominees (subject to policy terms and conditions), ensuring long-term generational financial protection.
Five Indian students have won gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026, held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from the 4th to the 12th July, 2026.
The gold medal winners are Kanishk Jain from Pune, Riddhesh Anant Bendale from Indore, Rishit Garg from New Delhi, Shresth Suraiya from Mumbai and Svarit Joshi from Ahmedabad.
With this achievement, India secured the joint first position, along with Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Taiwan, among 381 students from 87 countries.
The outstanding performance reflects strength of India’s Olympiad programme, spearheaded by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a National Centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
The Indian Deaf Women’s Cricket Team achieved a historic milestone by winning their first-ever international T20 series, defeating the host Sri Lankan Deaf Women’s Cricket Team 5-0. This tour was a significant debut on the international stage for the Indian deaf women’s team.
They played four matches at the De Soysa International Cricket Stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
Special Awards:
Player of the Final Match: Shradda Vaishnav (India)
Best Bowler of the Series: Chandani Khan (India)
Best Batter of the Series: Needa Zabi Shaikh (India)
Player of the Series: Reddy Jyoshna (India)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled the official mascot, Mayur, of the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship in New Delhi.
Addressing the event, she said that sustained efforts are being made by the Delhi Government to strengthen sports infrastructure, enhance funding, improve coaching facilities and provide more opportunities to the athletes.
Highlighting the symbolic significance of the mascot, the CM said that ‘Mayur’ is inspired by India’s national bird and embodies energy, enthusiasm, vibrancy and positivity. The peacock’s feathers beautifully incorporate the national flags of all participating countries, reflecting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the universal message of sportsmanship.
Amid escalating maritime security concerns in West Asia following attacks on two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has launched a comprehensive ‘Seafarer-First’ initiative to safeguard Indian seafarers operating in the conflict-affected region.
Chairing a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting in New Delhi, Mr Sonowal ordered real-time vessel-by-vessel monitoring, and the appointment of dedicated liaison officers for every affected Indian seafarer in the region.
The Minister directed the Directorate General of Shipping to establish a real-time operational dashboard to track every Indian seafarer aboard vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, irrespective of the vessel’s flag.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with Drone Federation India today launched the second edition of the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR 2.0, 2026-27) under the SwaYaan initiative.
The initiative, approved in July 2022 with an outlay of nearly 90 crore rupees, builds the skilled workforce needed for India’s drone sector.
NIDAR 2.0 challenges students to build smarter drones powered by an Indian-made chip. It offers a prize pool of over 65 lakh rupees along with startup incubation, cloud credits, software support and internships for student teams.
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the Cost Inflation Index for the financial year 2026-27 at 384. This is 2.3 per cent higher than 376 in the previous year. CII is a government tool that helps adjust the purchase price of assets for inflation when calculating long-term capital gains tax. It benefits taxpayers selling assets by lowering the taxable profit.
For example, if someone bought a house years ago, a higher CII allows them to increase the original cost to reflect current prices, reducing the gain on which tax is paid.
However, following changes made in the Finance Act, 2024, the indexation benefit using CII has been discontinued for most long-term capital assets transferred on or after July 23, 2024. Instead, a flat tax rate of 12.5 per cent applies without indexation.
